It is, however, possible to obtain a satisfactory, although somewhat fugitive end-point in the presence of manganous sulphate and phosphoric acid. The explanation of the part played by these reagents is somewhat obscure as yet. It is possible that an intermediate manganic compound is formed which reacts rapidly with the ferrous compounds thus in effect catalyzing the oxidizing process.
The cylinder with its contents was revolved for two hours, then the charge was withdrawn and drained nearly dry by suction, the resultant liquid being slowly filtered through broken charcoal on which the chloride crystals were deposited, in appearance much like the bromo-chlorides of silver ore seen on some of the black manganic oxides of the Barrier silver mines.
Silver lodes and lodes which frequently carry more or less gold, are often found beneath the dark ironstone "blows," composed of conglomerates held together by ferric and manganic oxides; or, where the ore is galena, the surface indications will frequently be a whitish limey track sometimes extending for miles, and nodules or "slugs" of that ore will generally be found on the surface from place to place.