LAKE URMI.
Quantities of solids in solution estimated in parts per 100,000 parts of water.
| Abich.[4] | Günther and Manley.[5] | |
| Chlorine | 12,686.8 | 8,536 |
| Sulphates | 929.03 | 631.2 |
| Soda | 10,106.4 | 6,814 |
| Potash | ... | 140.2 |
| Magnesia | 1,099.3 | 626.6 |
| Lime | 37.7 | 70.6 |
| Traces of bromides | Traces of barium. | |
| ... | No traces either of bromine or iodine. |
In this case Abich’s sample was a stronger solution than Günther’s, the percentage of solid salts being 22.28 and 14.89 respectively. Yet the relative proportion of the various salts is very similar, as shown by the following comparison of percentages:—
| Abich. | Günther and Manley. | |||
| Sodium chloride | 86.37 | 86.203 | ||
| Magnesium chloride | 6.94 | 6.816 | ||
| 6.08 | 4.150 | ||
| Calcium chloride | 0.27 | ... | ||
| 0.34 | 1.151 | ||
| Potassium sulphate | ... | 1.741 | ||
| 100.00 | 100.061 |
The specific gravity in the two cases were determined as 1.175 and 1.113 respectively.
The remaining four analyses by Mr. Thorp were made from our small samples of water taken from fresh-water lakes.
Quantities estimated in parts per 100,000.
| Lake Bulama. | Lake Nazik. | Nimrud Crater, Large Lake. | Nimrud Crater, Warm Lake. | |
| Chlorine | 0.35 | 1.50 | 2.15 | 4.25 |
| Sulphates | ... | ... | ... | ... |
| Nitrates | 0.05 | 0.05 | 0.08 | 0.05 |
| Sodium and potassium carbonates | 8.80 | ... | ... | 91.13 |
| Magnesia | 1.29 | ... | ... | ... |
| Lime | 2.71 | 3.32 | ... | 5.82 |
| Iron oxide | 0.60 | 0.01 | ... | 0.08 |
| Silica | 3.5 | ... | ... | 13.8 |
| Alumina | 1.71 | 0.24 | ... | 0.68 |
| Total solids in solution | 25.86 | 18.74 | 39.41 | 114.43 |
| Suspended matter | 21.33 | 0.36 | 1.88 | 2.18 |
The water of Lake Bulama is slightly ferruginous and yet slightly alkaline. The unpleasant odour from the lake doubtless arose from the fermentation of much vegetable matter in suspension and solution; it could not be due to sulphur compounds, since there is an absence of sulphates, and the low proportion of chlorine indicates freedom from animal contamination.
Lake Nazik.—A soft water, with very little contamination.
Nimrud crater.—An accident to the sample of water from the large lake caused the loss of the iron, alumina, lime, and magnesia estimations. Some vegetable matter occurred in suspension.
The water of the warm lake is slightly alkaline, but the ratio of the potassium to the sodium could not be determined. It was rather turbid owing to fine fragments of vegetable matter. It is scarcely conceivable that it can possess healing properties.
[1] Comptes-rendus, Acad. des Sciences, Paris, 1847, xxi. p. 1111. [↑]
[2] Vergl. chem. Untersuch. d. Wässer d. casp. Meeres, Urmia u. Van-Sees, Mém. Acad. Sc. St. Pétersbourg, 1859, Séries 6, math. et phys. vol. vii. [↑]
[3] Müller-Simonis, P., Du Caucase an Golfe Persique, Paris, 1892, p. 258. [↑]