A N ESSAY TOWARDS A SYSTEM O F MINERALOGY. Digitized by the 'internet Archive •in 2015 https://archive.org/cietails/essaytowardssyst00cron_1 A N essay TOWARDS A SYSTEM O F MINERALOGY: B Y AXEL FREDRIC CRONSTEDT. Tranflated from the Original Swedifli, with Notes, By GUSTAV VON ENGESTROM. TOWHICHISADDED, A Treatife on the Pocket-Laboratory, CONTAINING An Eafy Method, ufed by the Author, for Trying Mineral Bodies, WRITTEN BY THE TRANSLATOR. The Whole Revifed and Corrected, with fome Additional Notes, By EMANUEL MENDES DA COSTA. LONDON; P|:inted for Edward and Charles Dilly, In the Ponitry. M DCC LXX. liTV ^ M A - -1 1 A ■ /•:-'’a:vA > lU. - m ' ‘-^v A r u ;r A o V 1 o : Y D O J L II • V "'-C T • X i. .TCT TE:>!0^r'> .ijiy ; a ti’icS''- ' ■ i.ru ' V?v ■ ,“»rcM fiiiw '-’O' ;f< r-v^i ' lA.;.^:'!.’ .ic H r z 3 V -J . > .. ri O / w V .^- r> •, A z': 5 a '! /. 1 1 I! V 1 :i v ,TT ’:;.;c :*'vJ-:''''? !0^i s--'-r -fio y‘tr!;i' V V - ■ “ K . 5 !• '. 'u;^T'uA u;', v<: ^jM.. ..Ivl •/Ix:.'^ -n/ .>7-, TAJ Ji-' ^ »i- ..,'.ir»^. ..*"f iv ’ f kl v-a .r; / 1 .»'vK! Ati .-. ■•-'^ 1 >■ ■ '-- '-'i »-»*!«■ t tu, r U w. ^ O X : ■:!. .1 .■..-<. X "r- '^rc ,,A. > •1 ' ' ^ ■:■ 1 ■; . V- ’S ■ ' f . [ i ] Mr. DA C O S T A’s PREFACE. I Sh uld hardly have troubled the Reader with any Preface, had not the title page mention, (i a Tranflation by Mr. Engedroni, revifed and corrected by me ; which neceffanly demands fome explanation, in juihce to us both. It is as follows : Mr. Engeflrom, a Swedim gentleman of great merit and learning, particularly in the fcience of Mineralogy, amafed himfelf with tranflating Mr. Cronfedt’s celebrated Syjiein of Mineralogy. On Mr. Engeftrom’s return to Sweden, this tranilation became the property of Meiiieurs Dilly, by whom I w^as employed to revife and corredl it; as it could not be expecled that Mr. Engeflrom, being a foreigner, was capable of giving a correft tranfladon in regard 'to lan- guage, or to a proper application of fcientifical names. I have therefore carefully corrected it in thofe particulars, and collated it with the German edition printed at Copenhagen in 1760; and the notes which occurred to me I have marked with D. C. to diftinguKh them from thofe of Mr. Engeflrom, marked E. a T H E [ a ] THE T R A N S L A T O R’s P Pv E F A C E. HIS Eilay was publiflied in Swedifli in ^ the year 1758/ by the Author, who in the beginning chofe to be anonymous, for reafons he has given in his Preface : He could notj however, remain long concealed, but was ibon difcovered to be the learned nobleman Axel Fredric Cronftedt. I now give a tranfla- fion of it, to comply with the defire of feve- ral of my friends here in England. I /hall not atteiiipt to amufe the Publick in' favour of this work, fincp it fpeaks fo well for itfelf, and has been alrnoft generally adopted wherever known. The univcrfal .applaufe, and the favourable reception jr met\vkb in Sweden, made itfoon known in Norway and Denmark. In the year 1760 k was tfanflated jnto German, and w^as ecjually [ iii 3 equally approved in Germany ; nor, ^n^deed, has it been unknown to the learned in England j for the ingenious and celebrated Dr. Lewi§ has mentioned it with praiie in the iecond part of his Philofophical Commerce of A.ts laiely publiihed. As a foreigner I (liould make an excufe for the tranflation, it not being- fo elegant as it ought to be ; however, I flatter myfelf I fliall not be too feverely cenlured on that account, fince it is a known truth, that originals always lofe Ibmething of their beauty by being tran- flated : I therefore think it better to prefer the true meaning of authors to the elegancy of fliie, particularly in fcientifical works ; and I am in this refpe<^ more able to give the Public fatisfaftion, as I have had the happinefs to be a difciple of the author himfelf. That the mineralogical terms might be more generally underftood, 1 have added the Swedifh and German names of the mineral bodies to their Englifli and Latin names ; except when to avoid tautology I have fometimes left out the German as nowife different from the Swedifh names. New difeoveries being daily made in thh fcience, I have alfo added feme notes of my owm, concerning fuch things of which I am perfeft’y convinced, leaving feveral others to be further examined and tried. I was in hopes to have feen a fecond edi- tion of this excellent vrork improved and aug- mented by the author himfelf 5 he having, a 2 ever [ ] ever lince the firft publication of it, been con- ftantly employed in making further enquiries and difcoveries in this fcience : • He had even , adually made fome coHedlions towards it, of which, however, the literary world is likely to be unfortunately deprived, as he lately died in the fortieth year of his age, before he had time to revife and put his new obfervations in due order. * ; * .l the t ^ 1 T H E A U T H O rs PREFACE. A S former ages principally encouraged philological and antiquarian enquiries ; this prefent age, at lead in Sweden, favours the ftudy of Natural Hiftory. Such changes muft be afcribed to geniufes,' who underftand how to make thofe fciences, which they have chofe for their principal dudy, agreeable to the Public ; and which Sciences, being in general ufeful to the whole com- munity, every individual thereof can reap fome advantage from it, and thereby gratify that felfdove implanted in the bread of all mankind in the puriuit of them. When the pride of a nation is flattered with the vain glory of being of great antiquity, the author of fuch an opinion is always favoured j and every little circumdance conducive to fur- ther confirm it, is carefully recolledfed and noted. Thus when the fubjefts of the creation are re- a 3 prefcnted [ vl ] prefented to us in a manner which affifts otrf n.emorv, and renders our conceptions of thera eafier, we aim at earneftly aaopting the noble improvement, and, in order to be toe more elteemed, we likewife always confer praife on the author. As Ipne; as the author adheres to his fvflem, and does not alter it, but only Lluftrates it from time to time with iome additional obfervations, we are not only well fatisfied with him, but alfo often become his faithful afliftants. Eut if he, convinced of the impropriety of his method from its very principles, rejects it, and prefents us with another new and entirely different ; whut will then be the refult ? Or what is likely to happen if this is attempted by a perfon who is unknown, and not artful enough to feize on the advantages of our paflions ? For my part, I am apt to believe, that in ' the former cafe, the prefent general tafte might be fomewhat leffened without any lofs to the fcience itfelf ; becaufe among the great number that love Natural Hiftory, there are always fome who embrace it when free from errors, and others, who are only fond of new reafon- ings and conclufions, merely becaufe they arefo. Thefe latter are even of fervice, and their party will certainly increafe in length of time. From this perfuafion I have ventured to publifh this Effay for treating Mineralogy in a fyftematical manner ; a ftudy to which I have with fo much pleafure applied myfelf. It is not done from the defire of novelty ; and ftill lefs t vil ] lefs from contempt of thofe fyftems, which Swcdifh gentlemen in particular, very dderved- ly, though chiefly on the fame principles, iTiave heretofore generally purfued. I have thought proper to conceal my name to prevent any conftraint on myfelf or others, and with a view to be at a greater liberty to amend the Syftem, v/henever I lhall be con- vinced there is a neceflity for fo doing, either by my own experience, or by the obfervations of others : Por I flatter myfelf that this w^ork will not pafs unnoticed by men of letters ; and, as it is only an Eflay, it ought, according ^ an eftablilhed law amongft authors, to be fheltered from too feverc cenfures. I wifh that the mineralifts themfelves would examine and compare all that has been hitherto done in this fcience ; they would then find the reafon which has induced me to deviate from the received fyftems, and to propofe another founded upon my own, as well as upon the difeoveries of others. But as this comparifon is not in the power of every one to make, I think it necefTary_ briefly to repeat here the changes which this fcience has undergone. The firfl: writers on Natural Hiftory found fo great a number of unknown bodies before them, that their curiofity and time would not allow them to do mere than to deferibe them by their mere external appearances, and to col- led: the names by which they were known to the natives of the countries where they were * Mr. Cronftedt never put his name to this EiTay. L\ C. a 4 I'ound, [ viii ] found. But as every country had a different name for theie bodies, they often gained more names than there were real fpecies, and even fometimes the very reverfe happened; this oc- cafiontd a confufion, wliich in the beginning was excufable, but in length of time could not fail of being an oblfacle to the progrefs of the fcicn.e, and its application in common life. To remove and alter thefe inconveniences, they have in later and more enlightened times endeavoured to fix proper names to the fubjeds of the mineral kingdom, according to their ex- ternal marks, as in regard to Figure, Colour, and Hardnefs ; hut thefe charaders afterwards having been found not fufiicient, it was necef- fary to difeover others more folid by the refult of chemical experiments, which added to the former ones would make a complete fyftem. Hiarne and Bromell were, as far as I know, the firfl: who founded any mineral fyftem upon chemical principles. However, they were only the projedors of this manner of proceeding ; and to them we owe the three known diviiions of the moft fimple mineral bodies ; viz. the Cal-^ card, Vitrefeentes, et Apyri, This fyftem was afterwards adopted by Dr. LinniEus, who, as a very fkilful perfon in the other two kingdoms of nature, ou?ht not to have omitted the third when he publiihed his Syftema Naturse. Browal, biihop of Abo, a prelate of great learning, had an opportunity of altering and improving Lin- neus’s method in a manufeript, which Dr. Wallerius has fince made public in his Minera- C 3 logy, with fome alterations of his own ; how* ever, the principal foundation remained the fame in all, or according to BromelFs method, which he had publiflied in a fmall book, enti- tled hidicatiom for the fearching for Minerals : Until Mr. Pott, a chemift by profeffion, and confequently inclined rather to believe the ef- fects of his experiments, than the external ap- pearances alone, proceeded farther than was cuftomary before his time, in the affaying of ftones by fire, and afterwards publiflied his ac- quired knowledge by the title oi Lit hegeognef a. From this book the faid author received confi- derable honour, becaufe the true advantage of his refearches began to appear : Miners and other manufadlurers were by it able to deter- mine the reafon of certain eiFeds, which they before either did not obferve, or wilfully con- cealed, to avoid the cenf ire of being ignorant, if they advanced fuch things as real truths, which, according to modern fyftems were re- garded as contradidory and abfurd. Mr. Wol- terfdorff, a difciple of Mr. Pott, then begun immediately to form an entire mineral fyftem^ founded upon chemical experiments ; but his mafter did not approve of it, flill infilling that materials were yet wanting for the purpofe; and that e^oejy mineral body* ought firft to be examined and tried w^ith the fame care that he had tried and examined the moll limple of them ; to Vv^it, the Earths and Stones. oLich was, according to the idea I had of if, the date of Mineialogy, when I, touched by the [ X 3 the difficulties which beginners laboured under, undertook to put my fcattered thoughts in this order. Naturalifts agreed with me, in thinking the barrier, which had a long while been defended with fuch ardour, was now beaten down, and that it was neceflary ano- ther fhould be ereded in its ftead, as good as could be procured, until a perfedt one might be in time difcovered. Such an enterprize it was thought would promote this defirable end, when on one fide I refleded upon the paffion which our learned have for difputing, and on the other part confidered the gracious reception which the Arts and Sciences have met with at this time, from thofe to whom the heavy burthen of governing human focieties is allotted. It is from their care we are to exped the compleat tribunal where all difputes in this matter can be accurately decided, and all things be rendered truely ufeful ; I mean the inftitution of a Labo- ratory ; where the fight, grinding and poliffi- ing; where the air, liquid, and dry diflblvents and alfo lire in all its degrees, from the eledri- cal to that of the burning-glafs, may be em- ployed as means to obtain the knowledge of thefe intricate and unknown bodies. To a fimilar circumftance, perhaps, thofe chemical experiments upon vegetables were owing, which were made many years ago in a certain kingdom; and though they did not anfwer at that time the intended purpofe, yet they may at fome future time be repeated with advantage. [ xi 3 advantage, when more knowledge in that matter is obtained : But thus much we certainly know by experience, that the mineral kingdom is ex- tremely well adapted to be examined by thefe means. The experiments made by the inge- nious Mr. Homberg, with Tfchirnhaufen’s burning-glafs, may certainly be carried yet farther, whereby fome doubts may like wife be removed, which ftill remain regarding fome of the effedls of his experiments. Thus, we fliould be employed in obierving me phoeno- mena and drawing conclufions horn ihem, in- ftead of only iearching for the principles of thofe effedts, as naturalids were formerly obliged to do. How fatisfied would every lover of fyftems be, if by this means he could get materials properly prepared to compofe a better work, in which he could introduce the few valuable things which are to be found among the old ruins, and leave out all the vague expreffious, together with the diflinftions, that are ot no confequence. When I had, for the above-mentioned pur- pofe, colieded my ov./n obfervations, and thofe of others, I heard of two new books on the fame fubjed 5 they were Mr. D’Argenviile’s Orydology, and Mr. Jufti’s Mineralogy 5 for which reafon I laid my' manufcript afide, un- til I had, by the perulal of thofe two works, convinced myfelf that thofe gentlemen had not prevented me from purfulng my plan ; for, the former has, in my opinion, endeavoured to bring i xii I bring us back to a tafte that was formerly in Vogue; and which, though we do ‘not defpife, yet we negledi. The fecond feems to have hur- ried himfelf too much, mixing together fome irrefiftable truths, with a greater number of opinions, not yet demonftrated, or mere con- jedlures ; which is running on f after with a theory thah experiments will permit whereby nature, which is the chief point, will at the end be loft. Therefore, that no fondnefs for novelties, in confequence of thefe new works, or others of the like nature, which may hereafter be pub- lifhed, may again divert our attention from the only method of obtaining a?iy knowledge of the Mineral Kingdom ^ which has w'ith fo much pains at length been difcovered, and has aU ready been a little entered upon ; I have, prompted either by felf-love, or a more gene- rous motive, publiflied this Effay, even before I have had time and leifure to reduce it into a perfedl fyftem : I do not pretend that it is a compleat one, by which we can with certainty divide mineral fubftances, and afterwards re- duce them into order. I have chiefly intended it as a bar or oppofition to thofe, who imagine it to be an eafy matter to invent a method in this fcience, and who, entirely taken Z{p with the fiirjace of thi?igs^ think that the Mineral Kingdom may with the fame facility be reduced into clafes^ genera, and [pedes, as animals and ^cegetables are ; th.ey do not confider that in the two laft kingdoms of nature there are but fel- [ xiil ] dom, and never more than tv/o different kinds found mixed together in one body ; whereas im the mineral kingdom it is very common, though it will neverthelefs always remain concealed from every one, however penetrating, who has not employed himfelf in the compounding or de- compounding fuch bodies^ as far as the prefent knowledge* of thefe matters will permit. So much may be faid in general concerning this Effay ; but now I ought more particularly to inform my readers of the motives why' I have now and then deviated from the orders and dif- tindtions hitherto ufed. Earths and Stones are comprehended in one clafs, becaufe i . they confift of the fame prin- ciples ; 2. they are by turns converted from one into the other, infomuch that an earth may in length of time become as hard as a flone, and vice verfa : nor can the true difference be- tween a flone and an earth be pofitively pointed out by the degrees of hardnefs or foftnefs ^ for where is it that the common chalk finifhes, and the lime-ftone begins in the Englifh ftrata and how is a clay, whether in water or not, to be diftinguifhed from the foft and undtuous foap-rock, or Smedlis. The divifion of earths into Vitrefeentes and Apyri is here omitted, fince all of them are, in a due degree of heat, found equally apt, either per fe, or by means of fome natural or artificial mixture, to be reduced to glafs equally as well as thofe hitherto called Vitrefcejites ; which are nearly the moft rpfradtory in the fire, and ought to [ xlv ] to be called Vitrefccntes am alcali, if their name was to have any connexion with their efFed:s. Having now fo far overconae the former ig-^ norance, which was the foundation of the know- ledge for diftinguifhing the mineral bodies into tranfparent or opaque, hard or foft, we prefer the decifion of the fire, though we ftill labour tinder the misfortune of not being able to mea- fure the degrees of fire with fufficient accu- racy ; for which reafon we always muft fuppofe a plus ultra in die experiments by fire. Sand in reality is nothing elfe than very fmall ftones ; therefore, if a feparate clafs were to be made of Sands,' another clafs ought to be made, which fhould comprehend Gravel ; a thirds Loofe Stones ; and a fourth. Mountains : This would be a multiplicatio entium prceter necejjita'’- iem\ a fault, which under thefe circumftances may eafily be committed, though not fo foon perceived. The Saxa muft for the fame reafon be exclud-r ed from any fyftem : Otherwife it would be the fame as if a botanift made a difference between the mifletoes, or fuch like vegetables, according to the different genera or fpecies of trees, plants, walls, or rails on which they grev/. Petrefadlions, or MineraUa larva^a, confift of fuch principles as ought to be deferibed in their proper places, without regard to their figure; for which reafon they cannot be enu- merated a fecond time. The principal reafon for colledling them, is to acquire a knowledge pf fuch bodies of the animal and vegetable king-. do ms, ( XV ) doms, as are not ufually found in their natural ftate, and in this refpedl they belong properly to the ftudies of the Botanifts and Zoologifts. For a Mineralift is fatisfied with a Angle Ipeci- rnen of each different fubftance that has taken the fhape of a vegetable or animal body, and this only to illuftrate the hiftory of their ge-^ neration j he leaves it to others to decide if corals are vegetables, or the habitations of worms ; and thus receives them very uncon- cernedly, after they have been mouldered to a chalk, changed into a fpar, or into any other ftony matter. Neverthelefs, I have in the Appendix propofed a method for ranging the Saxa and Petrefa^a in regard to the oeconomical ufes that may be expeded from them. Slate fignifies or denotes the form alone, and not its kind or qualities j however, it regards only its fituation in the rock, and not the tex- ture of its particles ; which latter I have always endeavoured to take notice of, fince fome dif- ference in the effeds frequently depends on it^ And, as nothing is great or fmall but by com- parifon, it is difficult ftridly to determine in what degree of thicknefs or thinnefs a ftone begins to deferve the name of a flate. Never- thelefs, I would have prevailed on myfelf to adopt this general name, if the breaking in thin plates had been the property only of any particular kin^ of ftone, but it is by no means the cafe ^ becaufe there is found in the province of Jemtdand, in Sweden, a pure quarts, limeftone, (both folid and fcaly) indu- [ xvi ] rated boles, alum ores, and a great number of faxa, which are all of a plated ftrudure, dividing into leaves as thin as pafteboara : And there- fore I make no doubt but all kinds of hones may be found of fuch a figure in fome parts of the world. What confufion would it not occa- fion if all thefe different kinds were included 'under one genus ? And are there not folid ftones found confifting of the fame conffituent parts as the flates, which are feparately confi- dered in fydems ? I could not range the ores according to the different kinds of rock in which they are h)und ; for inftance, the Goofe-dung filver ore, the Liver ore, and many more of the fame kind, fincc obfervations upon the matrices of ores belongs to another branch of the Mineral Science, called Geographia fubterraned^ or Cofmographia Jpe- cialis-y in which likewife the clefts, fiffures, and veins or loads, that occur in every fort of rock, (in order to promote the circulation and fixation of the mineral vapours) are treated of. In that Science alfo the Petree Parafiticce are pointed out, whofe number perhaps is not yet known ; as likewife the glofly fiffures from which the Miners S^eculares have obtained their name. And this is a branch of icience, wLich, in the hands of a‘ fkilful mineral ifi, is likely to furnifh us with a periedt idea of the age of every fort of done, and alfo of their different gradations between the two accidents, to which all created beings are fubjecl. Com- pofition and Deftruction. Since [ ^yn ] Since it has not been ufual to confider the earths and ftones as the fame, in regard to the principles of which they confift, and only diffe- rent from one another by tlie greater or leffer hardnefs and coherency of their particles; I hope for excufe, in not being able to prolecute this Effay fo far as to point out a particular earth for each kind of ftone. Perhaps alio fome of the mineral bodies are already fo much harden- ed, that no earths of this kind are to be found ; or, perhaps, the little knowledge we have of them is owing to the neglevfl of not collecting earths with the fame earneftnefs as we do ffones and ores. If, therefore, all the earths which •are ranged in certain modern fyftems, and there dihinguifhed from one another, in regard to the difference of their colours and places where they are found, had fallen into the hands of Mr. Pott, and been tried by him in the fire, as he has tried the ftones, and been defcribed in his Lithogeognejia^ it is very probable that we now fliould know thefe bodies better, and their number would certainly be lefs perplexing. The bints which are here given may^ how- ever, tend to promote the intended point for the future ; and then perhaps the earths will be found not to be quite of fo many different kinds as I have here been obliged to divide them into, for want ofperfedfly knowing their affinities and their feveral origins; becaufe we haveftrong rea- fons to believe that the calcareous and argidaceous earths are the two principal ones, of v/hich all b the [ xviii ] the reft are compounded, although this cannot yet be perfedly proved to a demonftration. The Luji Natura are not feparately treated herein ^ they may be found every where in the Effay, becaufe the rock cryftals do not appear to me lefs curious than the indurated marles ; and the kidney ore is often found of a more furprifing figure than the eagle-ftone. I can- not therefore find any reafon for forming a clafs of them, nor do I comprehend what others take to be a greater or lefs fport of na-j ture in the mineral kingdom. Figured ftones, or which contain the repre^ foitations of vegetables, animals, &c. occafionr ed by different veins or colours in the ftones, are in my opinion of ftill lefs confequence, and are alfo more difficult to range properly in claffes ; becaufe people feldom, or rather never, agree \n their fancies ; but what feems to re- prefent an objed to one, may make a difterent appearance in the imagination of another, whereby both confufion and difputes would arife about the bodies of fuch a clafs. Befides, a very fmall advantage, if any, can refult from fuch a clafs ; fincc all that the Almighty created has required equally his power, and is a!fo equally worthy of our admiration : It gives rather rife to pedantry, whereby the attention is by degrees diverted from true knowledge to mere trifles, of w'hich both ancient and mo- dern books are fad inftances ; and if Mr. Du Fay had not method of impeded the evil by difcovering thp improving the figures upon flints [ xlx ] and agats, we might ftlll have feen v/hole col- lections full of them with fuch imaginary figures. Stones that are found in animals and fifhes, are partly compounded of phlogifton, falts, and a fmall quantity of earth, and partly confift of the fame matter witli animal bones, and can therefore with as little reafcn have a place in a ■mineral fyfiem as the ftones of fruits. Soot, tartar, yeaft, and things of fuch nature, have too ■great affinity to the vegetable kingdom, and are never to be met with under the farface of the earth; wherefore they may in Botany be confidered in the fame manner as regules, glalTes, and flags are in Mineralogy. ' The hair-balls found in animals, and felt, differ from one another in that the former arc worked together By means of the periftaltic motion in the bowels of the animals, and the latter by the art of the feltmonger. May not all thefe ftones of animals therefore be ranked among the relidta animalia ? By all this it is very evident, that my chief care has been to treat the mineral king- dom in fuch a manner, that thofe whofe principal ftudy it is, may avoid every thing un- neceffary and fuperfluous ; and by a perfedl knowledge of the fubjeds be brought to con- fider how to employ them to the bell: advan- tage ; whereby I hope that the pleafure of col- leding minerals will rather encreafe than be difeouraged. If fome objeds are thrown out from mineral colledions on account they do b 2 net C XX ] not belong to them, other collections will be ^augmented ^ and thus every thing will be brought into a due order. If fome colledtors fhould not immediately be able to comprehend this Svftem or Claffification, it cannot much detriment the fcience; and it is likewife of very little confequence in proportion to the advan- tage that will accrue to the ftudy by this me- thod, the more it (hall be cultivated and improved. Ptolpmy cannot be fuppofed to have known the value of every book he fent to his great li- brary in Alexandria, and he had* doubtlefs no time to ciafs them himfelf according to the con- tents of the different bocks acquired ; however, his lovefor coileding muft have continued during his life: P4oreover, the advantages obtainable from it would have been afterwards difcovered, had it net been difperfed ; or, as fometimes happens, had not the cehedion been fuppofed to gain fome additional value by being made difficult of accefs to the learned. As fcon as we are arrived to fuch a pitch, as by the examination of a mineral body to dif- cover or know all its conffituent parts, and can alfert with certainty that it can be no further decompounded by any method hitherto known i then liich a body ought, according to the in- tention of this Eifay, to receive its fpecific narriC, and not before ; for otherwife it will be vague and trivial. However, I have not affiimed a confidence to do this even v/ith fuch mineral bodies that I in fome refpedl can aver I pretty [ xxl ] I pretty well know^ and which Have not yet obtained any fixed name 3 as I think it proper to wait that event, until this Effay has palled through that trial which I fincerely wifh it de- ferves to undergo, equally with others of the fame nature. Ihen only will be the proper time to fix the genera arid fpecies, according to fuch charafters as fliall be found the moft natural. . Meanwhile I flatter mvfelf with fo much fuccefs, that ftudents, who intend to follow this propofed method, will not be fo eaiily mif-» taken in the fubjed:s of the mineral kingdom, as has happened with me and others in following former fyfleiiis ; and I alfo hope to obtain feme proteftors againfl: thofe who are fo pdiTefled with the jigurojnaniay and fo addidled to the fiirface cf things^ that they are fliocked at the boidnefs of calling a Marble a lAmeftG7je^ and of placing the Porphyry a7no?:gft the Saxa, T H B . , , ,y . ri .-. . . - ‘I ,;:;?n -.: i ■>' :■ • • ^ ,§ mb d Jm^.. ':.- ::Ss- }r '- '" i if-Ii' K ^41- ' '? »''*t j' ■ \ ' <• ‘‘t ■•: /' C v. V* '• ■ r>iV/: A., rii- - ’' • - , ■ ' 1..^!^ t*i : • • ^ 1 ; ' .* V* i ^ ' / 0 '. J i ; I '*« ! ': £l - • ' t -7 * ♦vjf*i . , , . ' 'ftb T : ^ - ..' ^ \ff , •'*'■.! . ■■ ‘ "i ■'•. ' ■ •- -OfJ. . . ' ■ ■'*’'■ ■'..■. '»•" V=jn."n\ ■' I • ' :v ^ ■ '* if i:Iv T - ‘rSV-- •• i ' - . . '.'>yiT i '^. iii^'* • >' * ' T -cqff' ji' "r . i’ q 3 JW' 093)1^ < I . jf . ^ " ' ^ * . •• - . ^ :../*l< •■'■.#.c . ' ^ '' L * *^ ' •- oi . . ' • f. . [ xxlu 3 F^» Ilium THE O N T E N T S. ARTHS — — SECT^m. I. Calcareous ^ IV. A, Pure — ^ ^ V. 1. Loofe ^ V» 2. Friable; Chalk ^ — VL 3. Indurated. Limeftone VII. A. Solid VIE B. Granulated — — ^ VIII. C. Scaled — IX. X). Sparry. Calcareous fpars — X. E. Criftallifed XL F. Stalaftitical. Drop-ftones XIL B, United with the acid of vitriol. Gypfum XIII. I. Loofe. Gur XIV. 2t Indurated. Plafcer ftones XV# A. Solid XV. B. Scaled XVI. C. Fibrous XVIL 2). Sparry. Sielenites XV III. E. Criil-allifed XIX. F. Staladtitical XX. C, United with the muriatic acid. ^ XXI ammoniac 3 D, United with the phlogifton or inham- ^yvtt mable fubftance ^ ;^AAlii I. With the phlogifton alone. The 7 ^YjrT - 2 . With phlogiflon and the vitriolic { VvT\r acid. Liverifone — — ^AAiV# T. Blended with an argillaceous earth. 1 t^r^xr Marie ^ r^i^XV. h 4 I. Loofe XXVI CONTENTS. 2. Indurated A, Pure B, Mixed with phlogifton and the vitriolic acid. Alum Jlate C, Mixed with lime 5. Micaceous — - — A. Pure mica, or glift 1. Of large fcales or flakes 2. Of fmall fcales or flakes 3. Chaffy 4. Crumpled or twiffed B. Martial mica, or glift 1. 2 . Of large flakes Of fmall flakes 3. Crumpled or contorted 4. Chaffy 5. Criftallifed 6. Fluores — A» Indurated 1. Solid 2. Sparry 3. Criftallifed 7. The Afbeftus kind A. Of foft and thin fibres } - S E C Ti XCI. XCIIL XCIV. - xcv. XCVII. XCVIII. - XCIX. c. - CII. Cor turn mon- CIII. cv. CVT. CVIII. CIX. j. Of parallel fibres. tanum j 2. Of twifted fibres, ^uher ?nontanum B. Of fine and flexible fibres. AJbejU 1. Of parallel fibres j 2. Of abrupt or broken fibres A, Pure 7 J. Solid y 3. Criftallifed CXI. jB. Mixed with iron and filver. The lapis lazuli • — r- ^ CIX. The Manganefe kind CXIIl. A* Loofe and friabjg — — CXIV. B* Indurated ^ 1. Pure S 2. Mixed with iron — ^ CXVI. 3. vvith iron and tin, or Wolfram CXVIl. " II. SALTS CXV. CONTENTS xxvii II. SALTS I. Acids A. Acid of vitriol 7 1. Pure \ 2. Mixed or faturated 7 A. With metals. Vitriol 5 B, With earths, Plafter-ftone and alum C. With phlogifton. brimjlone Sulphur^ or SECT. - CXIX, cxx. CXXL CXXIL CXXW. cxxv. CXXVI. D. With alcaline falts. Neutrals B. Acid of common fait 7 1. Pure 2, Mixed or faturated A. With earths B. With alcaline falts C. With phlogifton. Amber D. With metals 2. Alcaline mineral falts A. Fixt 1. Alcali of common fait A. Pure B, Mixed 1. With earths 2. With mineral acids CXXXVIII 2. Borax — — B, Volatile — — I. Mixed with the muriatic acid. CXXVIL CXXVIIL CXXIX. cxxxm. CXXXIV. cxxxv. CXXXVL CXXXVIL CXXXIX. CXL, Sal ammoniac CXLL 2. with earths CXLiL III. MINERAL INFLAMMABLES — CXLIV. A, Ambergrife CXLV, B, Amber — CXLVL a Rocic-oil - — — CXLVIL } ■— CXLVIL B. Rock-oil CXLVIIL 2. Thick and like pitch. Maltha CXLIX, 3. Hardened Afphaltum , ^ — — CL. D. Sulphur or brimftone CLI. j. Native fulphur CLL 2. Sulphur that has dilTolved J, iicn. Pyrites metals "j 1, CLIL uipnur Xxviii CONTENTS. SECT. B, Sulphur that has diflblved iron and tin-. Black had. ' CLIV. C, ~ ^ _ iron with other metals • CLV, D, other metals CLVI. £• Mineral phlogifton united' with earths j. With a calcareous earth 2. With an argillaceous earth 1 A, With a fmall quantity of coal 3 B, With a greater quantity C, In very great quantity CLVII- CLVIIL CLIX. CLX. Mineral phlogifton- mixed with metallic"^ earth | 1. With copper 2. With iron >CLXL A, Fixt B, Volatile IV. METALS. I. Metals A, Gold 1 2 J - Native gold Mineralifed A» With fulphur 1 . By means of iron 2. quickfilver 2. zinc.tin.and filver B. Silver I. Native - — — J CLXIIL CLXIV. CLXV. CLXVI. CLXVIL CLXVIIL 2. Mineralifed T A, With fulphur alone. Glafs> CLXIX fdver ore j 5 . With fulphur and arfenic. Red fthcr ors 1. ' Grey 2. Red C. With fulphurated arfenic and copper. Jkliite filver ore — D. With fulphurated arfenic and iron. iP^hite filver ore — E. With fulphuratad antimony. Liver and plumofe fiver ore f. With fulphur, copper, and antimony CLXX. CLXXL CLXXII. cLxxiir. CLXXIV. G, Wit^ c O N T E N T-S JCXiX S T C T. CLXXV. CLXXVI. CLXXVII. CLXXIX. CLXXX. CLXXXL G' With fulphur and zinc H. Whh fulphur and lead Potter* $ lend ore L With fulphur and anti mony K. With fulphur and iron L, With the acid of common fait Horn fiher ore, C. Platina del pinto j) Xin ^ _ 1. In form of calx Indurated ‘ // 1 . Pvlixed with the calx of v arfenic . ^ a. Solid. ‘Tin-Jlone \ b. Crilfallifed. Tin grains ^ 2. Mixed with the calx of. iron / 3. A^jxed with manganefeX H^oljram 2. Mineralifed by fulphur with iron. Black lead Lead . . ' CLXXXIV. 1. In forrn of calx A, Pure 1. Friable. 'Lead ochre 2. Indurated. Lead Jpar. B. Mixed 1. With calx of arfenic C CLXXXVI. 2. With a calcareous earth 3 2. Mineralifed 1 yf. With fulphur. I CLXXXVIL lead ore j B. With fulphurated filver .CLXXXVIIL C. With fulphurated iron and hlver . CLXXXIX. D. W'ith fulphurated filyer and antimony. Antimoniated lead ore ^ CXC. F. Copper — — CXCil. 1. Native . — — CXCilL 2. In form of calx 1 J, Pure I CXCIV. S ^CLXXXV. 'riable. Copper ochres i 2. Indu- JKxj: CONTENTS. 3 - SECT. 2. Indurated — CXCV. B, Mixed 1. Friable C . CXCVI. 2. Indurated 3 Mineral ifed 4. With fulphur. Grey copp,er C CXCVII. ere S B. With fulphurated iron. Mar^ cafitlcal copper ore CXCVIII, C, With fulphur, arfenlc, and iron CXCIX D, DifTolved by the vitriolic acid Vitriol of copper E, Mineralifed with phlogifton 6. Iron I. In form of cajx 1 A, Pure 5 1. Friable. Martial ores 1. Powdery 2. Concreted. Bog ore ; 2. Indurated haematites > 1. Of an iron colour S 2. Blackifh brown ^ 3. Red 4. Yellow ■ ■ ■ — » B, Mixed with heterogeneous fub- ftances I. With a calcareous earth. White iron ore^ or Spathofe iron ore 2. a filiceous earth. Red chalk 3. Garnet earth. Garnet and Jhirl 4. an argillaceous earth. Bole a micaceous earth. Mica 6. Afbeftos CC. CCI. CCII, CCIL CCIII, CCIV. ccv. CeVL . ccyii Manganefe 8. an alcali and phlp- gifton } GCVIII. I. Blue martial ochre 9. With an unknown earth. Terras CCIX. 10. » " " another uitknown earth CCX. 2. Mineralifed, CONTENTS. XXXI 2. Mineralifed -j A, With fulphur alone i 1. ^2X\xx2X^^, Marcafite pyrites V 2. With very little fulphur | 1. Magnetic J 2. Non-inagnetic With aifenic. JidifpUkel^ or plate mundic Cr Sulphurated arfenic. Zarnich and Sandarach D. the vitriolic acid. Cop* peras E. - T. - Phlogidon other fulphurated and arfenicated metals Semi-Metals ? A. Quickfilver 5 • ^ 'I. Native > — 2. Mineralifed A, With fulphur. Cinnabar 1, friable 2. Indurated 1. Granulated 2. Radiated 3. Scaled 4. Crillallifed B. With fulphur and gold — G, fulphur and copper - B, Bifmuth — : — - I. Native 2. In form of calx — 3. Mineralifed A, With fulphur B, With fulphurated iron C. Zink or fpeltre — I, In form of calx A. Pure I. Indurated Mixed 1 . With a martial ochre 2. bole 3. r~ lead and iron ochre SECT. CCXL CCXIL \ CCXIV, CCXVI. CCXVII. CCXVIII. CCXVT. - ccxix. ~ CCXXI. CCXXIL CCXXIIL CCXXIV. ccxxv. CCXXVIl. ^CCXXVIII Mineralifej CONTENTS, SECT. 2. Mineralifed *\ A. With fulphutated iron S CCXXIX. 1 . In a metallic form. Xink ore j 2. In form of calx. Mock-lead or blende — CCXXX. D. Antimony CCXXXII. I. Native CCXXXIII. 2. Mineral! fed A. With fulphur 1. With coarfe fibres 2. With fine fibres 3. Granulated 4. Criftallifed B, With fulphur and zvicmc : Rtd CCXXXIV. antimony ore ccxxxv. C, With fulphurated filver. Plumofe fdver ore D, ^ — fulgurated filver. cxxxvi. copper, and arfeiiic , I * E, — ' — • fulphurated lead £. Arfenic — 1. Native. The Scherbencoholi ccxxxviii. A. Solid and laminated B. Scaled C. Friable and porous 2 In form of calx ^ A, Pure ( 1 . Loofe ^ 2. Indurated J B» Mixed with fulphur, Orpiment I. Hardened 1. Yellow or native arfenic 2. Red or fandarach C. Mixed with the calx of tin in tin grains ccxxxix. CCXL. CCXLL CLXXXI. D. With fulphur and filver in the red filver ore CLXX. E. With the calx of lead in lead ar fp the calx of cobalt, in the ej/lorefcence or flowers ofl cobalt — CLXXXVL CCXLVIII. 3. Mineraiifed CONTENTS xxxli SECT Mineral ifed arfenic A, With fulphur and iron liYiZ Arfenical pyrites ^ CCXLIIl* B, With iron. The Mtjfpickel | or plate mundic C, With cobalt, in moftof the 7 cobalt ores D, With filver With copper - F, With antimony- Cobalt — — « j ccxLw*: CCXLIV. CCXLVI. CCXLVIL 1. In form of calx A. With iron withoiit arfenic 1. Loofe or friable. Co- balt ochre 2. Indurated. Schlacken^ or^ Jlaglike cohalt B, With the calx of arfenic. T Cobalt blood I 1. Loofe or friable. Efflo-\ refcence of cobalt >• CCXLVIII. 2. Indurated and criftal- lifed. Flowert of co~ halt^ and cobalt blood - 2. Mineral ifed A. With arfenic and iron in a metallic form 1. Granulated 2. Fine grained 3. Coarfe grained 4. Criftallifed B. With fulphurated iron I, Criftallifed C. With fulphur, arfenic, and iron 1. Ccarfe grained 2. Criftallifed D. With fulphurated and arfenicated iron and nickel CCLII. . Nickel — CCLiV. I. In form of calx. Niche! ochre CCLV. CCXLIX, CCL. CCLL Mineral I fed KXXiV CONTENTS, 2. Mineralifed A* With fulphurated and arfeni-'^ flaggy texture grained 3. Scaly cated iron and cobalt 1. Of a flaggy texture 2. Fine grained SECT. > CCLVI. 5 With the acid of vitriol. Vitriol of nickel CCLVIL APPENDIX. CCLIX. I. SAXA PETRAE A. Compound faxa Ophites Stellften Norrka — * Whetflone T elgften Porphyry Trapp Carpolithus, or fruit rocks — — 9. Gronflren 10. Granite — — B. Conglutinated Saxa 1. Breccia C A. Calcareous breccias 3 B. Jafpry brecciae C. Flinty brecciae. P lum-pudding- - CCLX CCLXL - CCLXII. CCLXIII. CCLXIV. - CCLXVi CCLXVI. CCLXVII. CCLXVIII. CCLXIX. CCLXX. CCLXXL CCLXXIL flone CCLXXIII. D. Quartzofe breccia CCLXXIV, E. Saxeous brecciae CCLXXV 2. Sand-ftones, or free fione A. Cemented with clay B. wdth lime C. — — with an unknown CCLXXVL cement D. withrufl: or ochre II. of iron 3- Sand ores I CCLXXVII. A, Made up of larger fragments ^ B, Of fmaller fragments CCLXXVIII. PEl’REFACTIONS CCLXXX. A. Earthy CONTENTS. XXXV A, Earthy changes 1. Calcareous changes A. Loofe or friable B, Indurated 2. Siliceous changes 7 A, Indurated \ 3. Argillaceous changes A, Loofe or friable t — - B. Indurated j B, Saline changes 1 I. By the vitriol of iron j C, Phlogiftic changes 7 __ 1. By coal i 2. By rock-oil 3. By marcafite — D, Metallic changes 7 1. Byfilver 3 2. — copper — 3. — iron . £, Extraneous bodies in a ftate of deftrudlion 1. Animal mould 2. Vegetable mould III. NATURAL SLAGS — A, The Iceland agate B. The Rhenifh millftone — C, The pumice-ftone D. Pearl flag ' £. Slag fand and afhes SECT. CCLXXXI. CCLXXXIL CCLXXXIII. CCLXXXIV. CCLXXXV. CCLXXXVL CCLXXXVIL CCLXXXVIII. CCLXXXIX. CCXCL CCXCIIL CCXCIV, CCXCV. CCXCVL 'CCXCVII. CCXCVIII. . CCXCIX. Defeription and Ufe of a Mineraloglcal Pocket Labora- tory, ^ _ Page 273. Alphabetical Table of diiFerent Alinerals, with the Swedifh and German Names. p» 319. ERRATA. ERRATA. Page 1 8, line 25, read. Of pyramidaU See. 26, 3, for Drufea^ read Drufa, 27, Antepenultimate line for Gypfea^ read Gypff?* 38, 32, read calcareous earth, &c. r— — 58, ■ — 31^ for Se^. I. read Se^^: L. 67, 12, for Saf'dea, read Sarda. —106, 21, for Smelling, read S/nelting, 224, 4, read, Of the others, kc. In Sig. T, forp. 173 — 'i88, read 273—288, «^.^..0S9O«»0C<»0000OOfl0O ^'^^##*# f. %*** ■*- Y *■''' X te-Js I -..- i» Ik. »: I ! J i ^x5k ^ .^x E S S A Y TOWARDS A SYSTEM OF THE MINERAL KINGDOM. SECTION I H E Mineral Kingdom contains all )/L M thofe bodies which have been fotmed ^ T & under the furface of our earth, whe- C I creation, or any other JILM ^1^^^ period; and which are ftill daily produced from their original or pri« mary principles, being deftitute of feed, life, or any circulation of fluids ** * The limits between the three acknowledged kingdojiis of Nature are almoft impoffible to be afcertained ; whence arifes the difficulty of giving any true definition of them : and indeed it may be queftioned, whether any fuch definition can take place, when we become fo far advanced in know- ledge, as to fee clearly the dependence and connexion of all natural bodies into one regular Chain or Syfiem. However, at prefent, it is necelTary that the feveral parts «f Natural Hillory ffiould be treated of feparately ; and as the B whole A SYSTEM OF fubjc(5t to the fame alterations, and we likewlfe outlive the greateft part of them, therefore we treat them with more eafe and conveniency •, whereas the changes which the mineral kingdom* undergoes, are hidden to us, and require many centuries to compleat them. I cannot fuppofe the mineral bodies to be pro- duced by feedsy for want of proof ^ and I do not know why the metals fhould have any preference in that refpecR:. Native or virgin copper and filver are produced in the fame manner as the ftala6lltes. The water carries alono; with it the invifible particles of lime, copper, or filver, and depofits them upon other fubjedfs, either by means of an attra6live power in thefe, or by fome alteration in itfeif, occafioned by its motion. The precipitated particles are^ at the beginning, very eafily feparated •, but in procefs of time they co- here very firmly, as is evidently feen in the na- tive precipitated or Ziment-copper which, after it has been fome time taken out of the water, is partly malleable. The figure which native gold and filver have in their rocks or beds, does not prove any more than do the metallic iron’s or cop- ^ per’s accreting into a mofs-like form in the poor or rich roafted ores or reguli at the furnaces ; it gives us rather an idea, how thofe accidents hap- pen, merely by the fhrinking and the hidden cool- ing of their furfaces : and we can then alfo begin to conceive fome thing of the reafon why cryflals are found in a pebble form, or in loofe nodules, as the petrified melons of Mount Carmel^ and the Ita- lian iron ores, in form of balls, &c. without wanting to have recourfe to the fuppofition of a * Called Ziment-copper from its being firfi: noticed in a vitriolic water called ziment, at Herrengrund in Hungary, D. C. ' , melting MINERALOGY. 5 melting heat, if we only carefully obfers^e thofe marks, which, befides, plainly fhew their having once been foft, or dilTolved. , That mineral bodies are ftill prepared in that large workfhop of Nature, the Earthy in the fame manner as thofe which are already full grown feem to indicate, is hardly to be pofitively advic- ed, fmoe we yet want fufficient obfervations and experiments thereon. I will, for inflance, mention the whole Flinty Clafs, of which we have not one oblervation, how they are generated. For if any one pre- tends to have hit upon the quartz cryilals ^ in the very inftant of their hioodng, it might be afked. Whether he only depended upon the fi- gure, or if he made llich experiments thereon as might convince us, that no calcareous earth, either pure or difguifed, was alfo at the fame time mixed therewith.^ To enumerate the many different ways of generation, which we have any reafon to fufpecd, does not properly belong to this work ; befides, it would carry me too far from my fubject, and might alfo furpafs my capacity to explain. I will, however, by mentioning the fol- lowing opinions, try to fpirit up perfons of more experience and leifure, willing to purfue thefe en- quiries. Precipitation from or hy water ^ is already menti- oned, as-well as a hint given about the formation of flints. This lafl does not fuppofe fuch a foft- nefs as that of clay when mollifled with water, but a fliminefs, a gelatinous, or a mucilagiiious matter, and confequently a more radical folution, * The author ufes the term Quartz criftals for the true criftals ; for all foreign authors call figured fpars alfo crif- tals j and diriinguiih them by the name of fpath or A ar crif- Uls. D. C. B 3 if A SYSTEM OF 6 if I may be allowed that exprefiion ; and this is again to be confidered as a different method. Another way, and which in our times is much favoured, is that of deftruclion partly by very violent means, fuch as fubterranean fires, and partly by more mild ones, fuch as the weather- ing, wafting, or decompounding away ; and by this way we have innumerable varieties, and new compofitions. The vitriolic and muriatic ccids do not lie dormant ; and being once let Joofe by the faid way of weathering or deftruc*^ tion, they do not flop till they are faturated with fomething. Where thefe acids cannot penetrate by themfelves, they are forwarded by the water, which, according to the laws of nature, is almofl: in a conflant motion :^but the effedls of thefe falts ought again carefully to be diftinguifhed from thofe of the water alone, becaufe this latter a6ts both as a menflruum, for inftance, upon the cal- careous earth *, and at the fame time by its vis in- erti^^ heavinefs and motion, wears off or abrades fome particles from folid bodies, carries them along, and depofxts them in other places, where thefe particles often acquire a different pofition, from what they had before. Are the Bog-ores produced of decayed mundics, although no vi- triolic matter is found in the waters or tracfs around them ? or, Are they to be reckoned a fe- diment of martial earth diffolved in water alone ? Would it be amifs to fuppofe, that a vegetable mould may of itfelf be changed into iron, fince it is found to yield from a grain to about half of its weight of the faid metal, as the experiments * The original has, “ Of deftrufiion that afrs privative,” which I have omitted, as it is quite unintelligible to me. p. c. demon- MINERALOGY. •demonflrate made upon the turf-moors which -are at the foot of the hills or high rocks in the pro- vinces of Dalarne, Jemtland, and Herjeadalen, in Sweden ? or, that certain vapours have pre- dominated, and ftill Ihew their power within cer- tain diftrifls, where they attack, and fix them- felves to fuch matters as are moil agreeable to them ; fo that trees, which have been buried in the earth, in fome of its fubverfions, have met with martial vapours in fome parts of Bohemia *, the flint-producing principle of Loughneagh in Ireland, and at Adrianople *, with the inflamma- ble fubftance in the ftrata of the coal-pits in Eng- land, and at Boferup in the province of Skone in Sweden ? or, that fliells muft, without the deftrue- tion of their calcareous principles, be changed in- to a calcareous fpar, as at the Baliberg in Skone ; be filled with flint, as at Vernon in France;, and in Siberia •, or be penetrated with marcafite, as at Andrarum in Skone *, or with a green copper ore, as at Jarifberg in Norway ? Silver feems to predominate at KongflDerg in Norway, as the cop- per docs in the north part of that kingdom : and the fame kind of ftone in which gold abounds at one place of the world, may contain none at all at another place •, and other fuch examples oc- cur. I now leave this important fubjedl, that I may not dlfcover my farther want of knowledge there- in ; but I take the liberty, at the fame time, to give this advice to beginners, viz, not to con- clude, that one mineral body is produced by ano- ther, only becaufe they are fituated near one ano- ther, if it cannot at the fame time be demonftrat- ed by the analyfis, or by artificial mutation : nor to content himfelf with making his obfervations only on colledtions of minerals, or oa heaps of B 4 oreSj / i A SYSTEM OF ores, but to profecute them to the very workfliop of Nature herfelf, where they may be made with more certainty, though in a narrow compafs ; I mean, in the very mines, quarries, and diggings, of the ftrata of the earth. For I myfelf 'have been aftoniflied to hear that the flint is faid to be produced by a calcareous fubftance, only becaufc it is found in the flrata of chalk in England, and in the limeftone at Kinnekulle in the province of Weftergottland in Sweden : and I am farther of opinion, that a flone, feparated from its bed, and thrown loofe on the furface of the earth, does not difcover more marks of increafe, than do bones difperfed in a churchyard, SECT. II. The bodies belonging to the mineral kingdom are divided into four different claffes : viz. I. Eap.th, or thofe fub fiances which are not duftile, are moflly indiffoluble in water or oil, and preferve their conflitution in a ftrong heat^. 3. Inflammables, which can be diffolved in oils, but not in water, and are inflammable. Salts : thefe diffolve in water, and give it a tafle •, and when the quantity of water required to keep them in diflfolution is eva- porated, they concrete again into folid and angular bodies. 4. Metals are the heaviefl of all bodies hi- therto known *, fome of which are malleable, • The Author, by Earths, does not mean (flri£lly fpeak- 5ng) only Earths, but includes all the kinds of Hones or fof* ^sis not inflammable, faiine, or metallic. D. C. and MINERALOGY. 9 and fome can be decompounded ; neverthe- ieis, in a melting heat they can again be re- covered, or brought to their former ftate, by adding to them the phlogifton they loft during their decompofition*. SECT. III. The FIRST CLASS. Earths, "Terrof the texture, or the finenefs of the particles. SECT. VII. III. Indurated, or Hard, T erra calcarea indu- rata, Limeflone, haps calcareus, A, Solid, of no vifible particles, or not granu- lated, particulis mpalpahilihus. This kind varies iii regard to hardnefs and co- lour, for inftance, a. White, from Hull in England. * SoUdafriabilis feems contradi£lory and inexplicable; however, I fhall ftridly adhere to the Author’s definitions, though never lb faulty, as 1 only tranfiate the work. D. C. h, Whitifll »4 A SYSTEM OE b, Whitifli Yellow, is dug at Balfberg ill Skone in Sweden, and in the Venetian territories. ^ c, Flefh-coloured, found in loofe mafles ill the corn-fields in the province of Upland in Sweden. d, Reddifii-brown, found in the ifland of Oeland, the province of Jemtland, atRett- wick in the province of Dalarne, and at Kimnekulle in the province of Wefter- gottland in Sweden. e, Grey, at the fame places. /. Variegated with many colours, found in Italy, at Blankenburg, and many other places, and is particularly called Marble * Though it may difpleafe many, yet t mud oWn, I can- not find any charadters whereby a marble is to be diftinguifii- ed from a limeftone ; and I infift upon it, that nothing but the colours and the texture of the particles diftinguifh the kinds of limeftone. But as Nature has eftablilhed no rank by colours, and has made every folid limeftone equally capable of a polilh, before they are fpoiledby decaying or decompof- ing; it is, therefore, out of this fpecies of folid limeftone, that fuch as ftrike the fancy moft, ought to be chofen for orna- ments, under the name of Marble. It belongs to the fubterranean geographers to examine, if this folid limeftone is ever found othervviie than in ftrata, and without being mixed with any heterogeneous bodies, that likewife have been changed into a calcareous fubftance. Here, in the northern parts of the v/orld, it is only found in fuch a manner as fhews it was formed in ftrata, by water’s taking up and carrying its particles, and afterwards depolit- ing them in form of a fediment, juft as a flime or mud (which is the fineft particles of pounded rocks) gathers to- gether at the ftamping mills ; and as they are thus formed in the water, there always are heterogeneous parts along with them. Thefe heterogeneous fubftances are, however, in too fmall a quantity, to be capable of having changed the whole mafs into a calcareous fubftance (as feme pretend) j not to mention thofe circumftances, which, in other refpedls, make fuch an opinion very improbable. g. Black, MINERALOGY. ^5 Black, in the province of Jemtland in Sweden, and in Flanders. See Sed. xxiii. infra. SECT. VIIL B. Grained or granulated limeftone. Lapis calcareus particulis granulatis, I. Coarfe grained and of a loofe texture. This is called Salt-Jlag in Swedifli, from its re- femblance to lumps of fait ; and is found in the filver mines at Salberg, in the province of Weftmanland in Sweden. a, Reddifh yellow. b. White. Both thefe varieties are found in the Salberg mines. The grained flux fpar is alfo fome times call- ed Salt-Jlag, Fine grained. a. White, found at Salberg. h, Semi-tranfparent, from Solfatam in Italy, in which native brimftone is found. 3. Very flne grained. This is the common limeftone at Salberg. a. White and green, from the mine at Sal- berg, called Storgrufsan. h. White and black, from the mine at Sal- berg, called Herr Stans Bottn SECT. IX. C. Scaly limeftone. Lapis calcareus particulis Jquamofis five fpatefts. * This fpecies has often as beautiful colours as thofe com*, monly called marbles ; but the texture and coherency of its particles will not admit of a good polilh. I. With A SYSTEM OF i6 1. With coarfe or large fcales. a. White, found at Garpenberg, a copper mine in the province of Dalarne in Swe- den. It is likewife found at Tunaberg, a copper mine in the province of Sodermanland j but with thefe different qualities, that it lofes in a' calcining heat forty per cent, of its weight *, and, expofed to the air, gets a brownifh efflorefcence, a fign that it contains fome iron, and is a medium between a limeftone and the white iron ore called Stahlfteins •, nor does It ex- cite any effervefcence with acids in its crude ftate. b, Reddifh yellow, from Finland. 2. With fmall fcales. a. White, from the parifh of Tuna in Da- larne, in the marble quarries at Kolmor- den in the province of Oftergotland, the parifh of Lillkyrke in the province of Ne- rike, and at Rimito and Pargas in Fin- land. 3. Fine glittering or fparkling. a. White, from Carrara in Italy, ^nd Par- gas in Finland. b. Of many colours. This variety makes out a great number of the foreign marbles * This rpecies of limeftone takes a good polifh, and is therefore ufed as marble whenever it is found ot a fine colour. It is befidcs to be remarked, that the grained and fcaly lime- Hones (Se«St. viii. and ix.) are found either in veins, or form whole mountains, that fhew no ftrata, nor figns of petri- fadions. SECT. MINERALOGY^ 17 SECT. X. D. I.ime or calcareous fpars, Spalum calca- reum, 1. Of a rhomboidal figure. a, Tranfparent or diaphanous. 1. Refracting fpar. Sputum ijlandicum. This reprelents the objedls, feen thro’ it, double. It is found at Brattforls, an iron mine in the province of Wermeland, and alfo in Switzerland and Iceland 2. Common fpar, which fhews the objeft fing;le. 1. White, or colourlefs. 2. Yellowifii and phofphorefcent, is found atjonufwando in Torneo Lapp- mark in the Swedifii Lapland. h. Opaque, Sputum romboidule opacum, 1. White, is found in many places, moftly in clefts, and among cryftallifations. 2. Black, from Winorn at Konglberg in Norway. 3. Brownifh yellow, at Salberg. 2. Foliated or plated fpar, Lumellofum, This has no rhomboidal figure, but breaks into'thin plates fo placed as to be not unlike flieets of thin paper, laid over each other. a. Opaque white. Sputum lumellofum opa^ cum^ from Winorn at Kongfoerg, and Scaragrufvan at Egeren in Norway. * There are vaft quantities of refrafling fpar (a variety of the Iflandic) found in the lead mines of Derbylhiie, Wales, and many other parts of England. D. C. c S E C T. iS - A SYSTEM OF SECT. XL E. Cryflallifed calcareous fpars, Laps calca- reus cryjlallifatus. Spar Drufen It is compofed of the laft mentioned fpar (Sefl.x.), that has formed itfelf exteriorly into leveral planes or fides, wherefrom many dif- ferent figures arife, the varieties of which have not yet been fully obferved, nor can they be exactly defcribed. Thefollowing are there- fore mentioned, only as inflances of the moft regular and common kinds, viz. I. Tranfparent, Spatum.druftcum diaphanum. a. Hexagonal truncated, Cryftalli fpatoji hexagoni truncati. This is found at the Hartz in Germany, and at Jonufwando in Lapland. b. Pyramidal, Pyramidales, . I. Dog’s-teeth, Pyramidales dijiin5ii. Found at Salberg, and in the iron mines at Dannemera in the province of Upland. 2 . Balls of cryftallifed fpar, Pyrami- dales concreti f . Thefe are balls which have Drufen, pyramidal, oftaedral, fpars accreted in their hollows or centers : they are found at Rettwin in the province of Dalarne, and other places '* Tn my Lectures on FollIIs I have adopted this German term of Drufen into our Englifh language, tor a clufler of re- gular figured bodies, as a Groupe conveys the idea of a clulter only, whetlier regular or of indeterminate figures. D. C. t The concave figured fpar balls in the quarries of Somer- letfldre, and other counties in England. Such balls of free- Itone are not unfrequently found. D. C. 'rhe name Spar is very well known, and only ufed to de- leimiiie a certain figure, viz. when a flone breaks into a rhomboidal MINERALOGY. SECT. XII. F. Stalaclitical Spar, StalaBites Calcanm. Sta- laftites, Stone Icicle, or Drop-ftone. rhombcidal, cubical, or a plated form, with fmootli and po- lifhed furfaces, it is called fpar ; and as it is thus applied to Hones of different kinds, without any regard to their princi- ples, one ought neceffarily to add fome term to exprefs the conftituent parts at the fame time as the figure is mentioned ; for inrtance, Calcareous Spar, Gypfeous Spar, Flux Spar, Shorl or Cockle Spar, &c. This term, however, is not ap- plied but only to earths, and fuch ores as are of the fame fi- gure as the Lead Spar, &c. All cryftallifed fpars, when broken, fhew the fparry figure an their particles, and the cryflallifation is to be afcribed to the empty fpace left by the contraftion of the fparry princi- ple : fuch holes filled with Drufen of fpars, are in Swedifh called Drakt, or Drufe-hol f. The figure of the cryftals varies more in this genus than an any other, for which no reafon can be afligned ; it ought not to be afcribed to falts, as long as the prefence of any fuch cannot be proved : but there are firong indications tofufpeft, that other fubfiances may likewife have received the fame property to affume an angular furface on certain occafions. See Mr. Cronftedt’s Introduflory Speech at the Royal Acade- my of Sciences at Stockholm. Befides, the confideration of thofe figures is a thing of more curiofity than of real ufe, becaufe no miner has yet been able to make any conclufion relative to the quantity or quality of the ores, from the difference of the figures of fpars found along with them; and the grotto makers never take any notice of the angles or fides, but think it fufficient for their purpofe, if they make a fine or glittering appear- ance at a diftance. It would, neverthelefs, be well if any one would take up- on himfelf the trouble to obferve, whether each fpecies of fpar has not a certain determinate number of figures or lides, within which it is confined, in its accretions. This has hi- therto been impoffible to do, becaufe all fpecies of fpars have been confounded together, without regard to their different principles : though, for my part, I do not think it of any great confequence. f What the author fays in the above note is of little confequence to the Engliih fluHent, as the name of fpar is never ufed with fnch latitude in our language. All fpars of this fiakey texture were by our former writers, as Grew and Woodyvard, called Talcy Spars ; but that term now is juftly exploded. See my Ledfures, D, C, C 2 This 20 A SYSTEM OF This is formed from water faturated with lime, which, while running or dropping, de- pofits by degrees the calcareous earth which it has carried along with it from clefts of rocks, or from out of the earth. It is there- fore commonly of a fcaly, though fome- timesof a folid and fparry texture. Its ex- ternal figure depends on the place where it is formed, or the quantity of the matter contained in the water, and other like cir- cumftances. I. Scaled Stalaflites of very fine particles, Sta^ laMites teftaceiis 'pay'ticulis impalpahilibus, a. Of a globular form, 6'. tefiaceus globu- lofus. . . • 1. White, the pea-ftone from Carlfbad, in Bohemia. 2. Grey, Pifolithus^ Oolithus^ from Gott- land in Sweden *, l\ Hollow, in the form of a cone, Coniformh perforatus. I. White, is found every where in vaults made with mortar, and through which water has had an opportunity to pene- trate ; and aifo in grottos dug in rocks, of limeftone. c. Of an indetermined figure, Figura incerta^ Sinter. From the cavern called the Baumans- hole in the Hartz, the aqueduft at A- drianople, in Italy, and elfewhere. d. Of coherent hollow cones, Conis concretis epccavatis. * Alfo the Hammites, from its refemblance to the rocs or fpawQ of fifh. It has been exhibited by Authors as petrified roes. The Ketton free-ftone, of Rudandfhire, is a remark- able ftone of this fort. D. C. Of MINERALOGY, It Of this kind is a fcalaiStitical cruft, which has formed a ftratum, or rather filled a filTure between the flrata of the earth at Helfingborg in the prov^ince of Skone ; it is of a very fin'guiar figure,- refembling conical caps of paper placed and fixed one in the other, diminifhing by degrees both in height and the other dimenfions. 2. Solid Stalactites of a fparry texture, S ta- lari tes folidus particulis fpatofis. a. Hollow, and in form of a cone, Com- formis. I. White, and femitranfparent, from Chaceline near Rouen in France * In making lime-water (aqua colds ^i^d) one may obferve how the lime gathers^ iirft like a pellicle on the lurface of the water, and afterwards, when this breaks, falls down to the bottom in form of a fcaly fediment, which is called ere- mov colds ; after that, a new pellicle is formed, which like- wife falls dowm ; and in this manner it continues for a long while, although the lime-water had before been pafTed thro’ a filtre. This we may alfo imagine to be the way in which the works of Nature are performed : whence the ftaladlites commonly is of a fcaly texture, or at leall: difeovers fome tendency towards it. But a fialadlites of a fparry texture, fuch as above-mentioned from Rouen, may be fuppofed to be owing to a more copious principle concurring at once : and in the fame manner the fparry limeftone and its cryftalli- fations feem liUewife to have been produced, lince they, as far as I know, are only found in clefts, which, when they have been filled up with a ilony matter, the Swedilh miners call Klyfter, and Gangar or Veins. In regard to this, the ila- laftites, the fparry limeftone, and alfo itls cryfiallifations, might all be ranked under the fame title in a fyitcmatical de- feription, as very little differeat from one another, if it was not necelTary in deferibing mines, and other works, to giv'e them their feparate names : becaufe it is certain, that a piece which is broken from large fpar- cry Hals, or from fparry fta- iaftites, may in a cabinet pals extremely well for a common fparry limeitone, v/ithout leaving any fufpicion of its former figure, before it was broke, C 3 SECT. A SYSTEM OF SECT. XIII. B. Satiated or united with the Acid of Vitriol, T!erra calc are a acido vitrioli faturata. Gyp- fum. Plafter-ftone or Parget. This is 1. Loofer and more friable than a pure cal- careous' earth. 2. Either crude or burnt, it does not excite any effervefcence with acids, or at moft it effervefces but in a very flight degree, and then only in proportion as it wants fome of the vitriolic acid to compleat the fatu- ration. 3. It readily falls into a powder in the fire. 4. If burnt, without being red-hot, its pow- der readily concretes with water into a mafs, which foon hardens ; and then 5. No heat is perceived in the operation. 6. It is nearly as difficult to be melted by itfelf as the limeftone *, and ffiews moftly the fame effedls, with other bodies, as the limeftone : the acid of vitriol feems, however, to promote its vitrification. 7. When melted in the fire with borax, it puffs and bubbles very much, and for a long while, during the fufion, owdng to the nature of both the falts f, * I have foand moft of the gypfeous kind, and particularly the fibrous, to melt pretty eafily by themfelves in the fire. t When a fmall quantity of any gypfum is melted to- gether with borax, the glafs becomes colourlefs and tranfpa- rent ; but I have found fome forts of alabafter and fparry gyp- fa that, when melted in fome quantity with borax, yield a fin« yellow tranfparent colour, refembling that of the beft topafes. This phcenomenon might probably happen with every one of the gypfeous kind. But it is to be obferved, that if too much of fuch gypfum is ufed in proportion to the borax. MINERALOGY. 23 8. Burnt with a phlogifton, it fmslls of ful- phur, and may as well by that means, as by both the alcaline falts, be decompound- ed ; but for this purpofe there ought to be five or fix times as much weight of fait as of gypfum. 9. Being thus decompounded, the calx or earth which is left, fhews commonly fome marks of iron. SECT. XIV. The Gypfeous earth is found 1. Loofe and Friable, "T^erra Gypfea pulverulen- ta. Gypfeous Earth, properly fo called, Guhr. a. White, is found in Saxony. SECT. XV. 2. Indurated, T^erra Gypfea indurata, A, Solid, or of no vifible particles, Solida particulis impalpahilihus, Alabafler, Ala- baft rum. This ftone is very eafy to faw and cut, and takes a dull polifh. It is not always found fatiated with the acid of vitriol. a. White, alabafter. 1. Clear and tranfparent, from Perfia. 2. Opaque, from Italy, andTrapanoin Sicily, h. Yellow. borax, the glafs becomes opaque, juft as it happens with the pure limeftone. See the following Treatife on the Pocket Laboratory, Sedt. xxviii, C4 I. Tranf- 24 A SYSTEM OF V Tranfparent, from the Eaftei;n coun- tries.^ 2 . Opaque. SECT. XVI. B. Gypfum of a fcaled or granulated ftruelurc^ Gy pftim parti cults micaceis. This is the com- mon Piafter-ftone. 1. With coarfe fcales. a. White, is found in the copper-mines . of Ardal in Norway, where this (lone is the country for the jzopper-ores. 2. With fmall fcales. a. Yellowifh, from Montmartre near Paris. b. Greyifh, from Sperernberg in the Mark in Germany. SECT. XVII. C. Fibrous Gypfum, or Piafter-ftone, impro- perly (though commonly) called Englifh Talc by our druggifts, Gypfum fihrofum^ Al ah afrit es. * I . With the fibres coarfe. a. White, from Livonia, With fine fibres. a. White, is found in very thin ftrata in the alum rock at Andrarum in the pro- vince of Skone. SECT. XVIII. jy, spar like Gypfum, Gypfum fpatofum. Se- lenites. This by fome is alfo called Glades Maria^ and is confounded wi^h the clear anci tranfparent Mica, Mica alba pelludda (Sect, xciy.}. i. Pure MINERALOGY, 25 Pure Selenites. A Tranfparent, Spatum Gypfeum diaphanuml a, Colourlefs, from Swiflerland. b. Yellowilh, from Mont-martre near Paris. 2. Spar like Gypfum, Marmor metallicuml This (lone, on account of its heavinels,' which comes near to that of tin or iron, is fufpedted to contain fomething metallic ; but, as far as is hitherto known, no one has yet been able to extradl any metal from it, im- lefs fome traces of iron, which is no more than what all other gypfa contain. A- Semitranfparent, Spatum Bononienfe^ the Bononian ftone or phofphorus. Its'fpeci- fic gravity is 4,500 ; ipoo. B. Opaque. a. White, h, Reddifh, are found in Wildeman, at Hartz, and in other German mines. 2 , Liverftone, fo called by the Swedes and Germans See Sed. xxiv. * Mr. MargrafFhas publiflied fome curious experiments In the Memoirs of the Academy at Berlin, about the quality thefe fpars have to yield a phofphorus ; and has fhewn, that every gypfeous earth is fit for it, provided metallic particles fire not predominant in it : now, as the Bononian fpar, which is ponderous, is of this fpecies, and is the moft fit to be brought to a phofphorus, it is evident, that no metallic mixture is the caufe of its weight. Mr. Scheffer, in the Me- moirs of the Academy at Stockholm, for the year 17^3, has communicated fome experiments upon a fione of this kind from China, which prove that it perfedlly agrees with the de- fcriptions given in feveral books, of a fione called Petuntfe by the Chinefe, and which, it is faid, is ufed in their China manufaclories. The phofphorus of Baldwin illuftrates Mr. MargrafF’s experiments. The phofphorefcent quality of thc'iQ Hones isa however, different from that of the fparry limeltone^ 2 $ X SYSTEM OF SECT. XIX. £, Cryftalllfed Gypfum, Gypfitm cryJlalUfatum, Gypfeous Drufen, Drufea Gypfea;, ■ I. Drufen of cryftals of pure fparry gypfum. A, Wedge-formed, Cuneiforme^^ are com- pofed of a pure fpar-like gypfum. See Se(^l. xviii. i. 1. Clear and colourlefs, from Switzerland. 2. Whitifh'yellow, from Montmartre. Capillary, Capillar es, a. Opaque, whitilh yellow, from Stoll- berget in Kopparberg Sian in Sweden. C. Of ponderous fpar-like Gypfum, Marmor metallicum Drujicum, ^ I. Jagged or like cock’s combs, Criftati- Thefe refemble cock’s combs, and are found in clefts or fiflures accreted on the furfaces of balls of the fame fub- ftance. 2. White, from Hartz and Kongfberg in Norway. 3. Reddilh, from Wildeman mine in the Hartz. SECT. XX. F. Staladlitical Gypfum, Stalactites Gypfeus. Gips Sinter. This, perhaps, may be found of as many different figures as the calcareous ftaladites or finters. See Seft. xii. c. I have only feen the following, viz. Umeftones and fluors, which is only produced by their being flowly heated, and Teems to ariTe from a phlogifton, which is dellroyed in a glowing heat. MINERALOGY. 27 1. Of no vifible particles, particulis impal-^ pabilibus^ in French Grignard, . A. Of an irregular figure. a. Yellow, from the plafter-pits at Mont- martre near Paris. h. White, from Italy. This is ufed in feveral works, as ala- bafter, efpecially when it is found in large pieces ; and then it commonly varies in colour between white and yellow, as alfo in tranfparency and opacity. 2. Of a fpar-like texture, ^extura fpatofa, A. In form of a cone. a. White and yellow, from Trapano in Sicily. 5. Of an irregular figure. a. White, from Stollberget in Koppar^^ berg Sian in Sweden SECT. XXL C, Calcareous Earth fatiated with the acid of common fait, l^erra calcarea acido falls com- * What has been before obferved (3e£l. xi. xii.) about accreted fpars and finter, may alfo be applied to this fpc- cies f . •f- Gypfeous folTils abound in England. Plafter ftone, granulated and folid, fome fo very fine as to be alabafter, that is, take a furface and politure, are plenty in Derbyfhire and Not'inghamfhire, where are large pits of it, and alfo in moft of the cliffs of the Severn, efpecial- ly at the Old Palfage in Soinerfetfhire. A very fine femipellucid folid alabafter is found in Derbyfhi"e. Fibrous talcs, very fine, are found in the fame pits of plafter-ftone above- mentioned, and many other places. Selenites of many kinds abound in England in days, infomuch that it is needlefs to enumerate the places. Very fine gypfeous Drufen are found in Sheppy-ifle, and the moft beautiful I have ever feen, perteftly pellu- cid as criftal and large, has been dug from the fait -rocks at Nantwich in Chefhire. The Selenites Rhom'ooidaiis, a rare fofti! in other countries, is frequently found in England 5 but Shotover-hill in Oxfordfhire, is fa- mous for them. I do not know of many of the fpar-like gypfea of Eng- lifh piodud, but the Ifle of Sheppy affords a kind (to my knowledge pe- culiar 28 V .A SYSTEM OF munis fat ur at a. Sal Ammoniacttm fixum natic* rale. . This is found, 1. In fea water. 2. In fait pits. It is formed in great quantities at the bottom of the falt-pans of the fait works. It attrads the moiflure of the ^r *. SECT. XXII. T>. Calcareous Earth united with the inflam- mable fubftance, "I'erra calcarea fhlogifto mixta ^ feu impregnata, Thefe have a very offenfive fmell, at leaf!: when they are rubbed, and receive their colour from the phlogifton, being dark or black in proportion as it predominates. SECT. XXIII. I. Calcareous Earth mixed with phlogifton alone, Terra calcarea phlogifto fimplici mix- ta, Lapis fuillus,, Foetid ftone and fpar, or fwine ftone and fpar. Perhaps the fmell ^ Perhaps fome kinds of limeftones may exift that contain more or lefs of the acid of common fait, though they are uot yet difeovered. It is almoft incredible what quantity of fuch dilTolved calcareous earth is contained in fea-water ; and from which the teHaceous animals or fliells get the materials for their fhells or coverings. Perhaps Nature has a particu- lar and fecret method of producing a mineral alcali out of ihe calcareous earth, and has thus laid tliis earth, as well as the acid of commoji fait, together in the water, in order to combine them by degrees, and produce the common fait. culiar and particular to that fmall fpet of ground, and not found any where elfe in th6-\vdrld) fibrous, and always accreting in radiations like C ft-r on the Septaria, thence called Stella Septani. D. C, of mineralogy. of this ftone may not be fo difagreeable to every one : it goes foon off in the fire. Its varieties, in. regard to the texture, are as follow ; 7^. Solid, or of no vifible or diflind parti- cles, Solidus particulis impalpahilibus. a. Black : the marble dug in Flanders, and in the province of Jemtiand in Sweden. J 5 . Grained, P arti culls granulatis. a, Blackifli brown, from Wretftorp afc Skoers in the province of Nerikc. C. Scaly, Particulis micaceis, I. With coarfe fcales. a. Black, at Nas in Jemtiand. ‘ 2: With fine glittering or fparkling fcalesi' a. Brown, from Kinnekulle in the pro- vince of Weftergottland, and Rett- wick in the province of Dalarne. j). Sparry. a. Black, h. Light brov/n, c. Whitifli yellow, found in the flate rocks in the province of Weftergottland. £. Cryftallifed. I. In a globular form, dug up at Krafna* felo in Ingermanland SECT. XXIV. I. Calcareous Earth united with phlogiftoa and the vitriolic acid, Terra calcarea phlogifia * Many of t^e Hmeftones of England are of this feiSUon, being extremely foetid when violently fltuck. In regard to the foetid fpars» I have had them from the lead mines of Fimc- fl;ire in Wales. D. C. et §0 A SYSTEM OF et acido vitrioli mixta, Leherftein of the Germans and Swedes. Lapis hepaticus. This ftone fome times readily, at other times only when rubbed, fmells like the he- par fulphuris^ or gun-powder. It excites no effervefcence with acids, and is a medium between the gypfum and the foetid ftones of the laft feiflion, t© which it has, however, ge- nerally been claffed, although no lime can be made from it •, whereas they are the fitteft of all the different limeftones to be burnt in- to lime. It is found A, Scaly. r. With coarfe fcales. a, Whitifh yellow, from Stollen at the mine called Gottefhulffe in der Noth at Kongfberg in Norway. 2. With fine glittering or fparkling fcales. a. Black, is found in form of kernels or balls in the alum-flate at Andra- rum in the province of Skone *. * The method that Nature takes In combining thofe mat- ters which compofe the liver-ftone, may, perhaps, be the fame, as when a lime-ftone is laid in a heap of mundic, while it is roafting ; becaufe there the fulphur unites itfelf with the lime-ftone, whereby the limeftone acquires that fmell com- mon to liver of fulphur, inftead of which the vitriolic acid alone enters into the formation of gypfum. How the ful- phur combines itfelf may likewife be obferved in the flate- balls or kernels from Andrarura alum mines, where it fometimes combines itfelf with a martial earth, of which this date abounds, and forms therewith pyrites within the very flate-balls. I have called this fpecies the Liver-ftone, notwithftanding that name, by reafon of its colour, has be- fore perhaps been given to fome other kind ; but as (in my opinion) the colour is a circumftance of very little or no im- portance in mineralogy, fo as not to deferve to be taken no- tice of, in preference to other charadlers of more confequence, I hope my boldnefs herein will be excufed. The foetid or fwine-ftones, and the liver-ftone, are, in regard to the ftrudure MINERALOGY. SECT. XXVi 3 ^^ E. Calcareous Earths blended with an argilla- ceous earth, "Terra calc area argilla intime mixta, Marie, Marga, 1. When crude, it makes an efFervefcence with acids, but 2. Not after having been burnt; by which operation it is obferved to harden, in pro- portion as the clay exceeds the calcareous lubflance. 3. It eafily melts by itfelf into a glafs, and even when it is mixed with the moft re- fradtory clay. 4. It is of great ufe in promoting the growth of vegetables, fince the clay tem- pers the drying quality of the calcareous earth. 5. When burnt in a calcining heat, it rea- dily attradts water : and, expofed to the air, in time, it falls into a powder. The varieties of this kind, worthy to be taken notice of, depend on the differ- ent quantities of each of their component parts, and on the quality of the clay. I fhall, for inftance, fpecify the following examples. SECT. XXVI. I. Loofe and compad, Marga friahilis. This dilfolves in water like common clay. of their parts, fubjc£l to the fame varieties as the other fpecies of lime-tlone ; and it is to be obferved, that a volatile alcali is commonly fappofed to have entered into the compofition of the foetid hones, though it has never yet been difeovered by any experiment. \ a, Reddifh A SYSTEM OF a, Reddifli brown ; dug up in the idand of Gottland in Sweden. . Pale red ; dug up at Upfal in Sweden. • This, when burnt, is of a yellowifh co- lour, and ufed for making the earthen-ware in the potteries at Rorftrand near Stock- holm. SECT. XXVII. 5 ., Semi-indurated, Marga indurata aere fate* fcens. It is nearly as hard as. a ftone when lirfl: dug up,' but 'moulders in the open air. It is moftly flatty, .and is -not uncommon in the date rocks of Sweden, where it lies be- tween the thick beds of datty limeftone, and is is alfo found by itfeif, forming very thick ftrata. It does not didblve in water, till, by a confiderable length of time, it has moul- dered to a powder. c. Grey. 1. Red. Thefe are found at Styggforden, in the parifh of Rettwiek, in the province of Dalarne. SECT. XXVIII. ' 3 . Indurated or ftone marie, Marga indurata', A* In loofc pieces, Marga indurata amorpha ; by the Germans called Duckfieiny or foph* fiein, a. White, from Woxna in Carelen, and in the river at Nykioping in the pro- vince of Sodermanland. 1. Grey, found in the provinces of An- germanland and Skone. o “ # X. MINERALOGY. 33 It is formed from a fediment which the water carries along with it. B, In continued ftrata, Marga indurata Jira- tis continuis. Hard flatty marie. SECT, XXIX. F. Calcareous Earth united with a metallic calx, Terra calc area metalUs intime mixta. Here, as well as in the others, fuch a mixture or combination is to be underilood, as cannot be difcovered by the eye alone, without the help of fome other means. The fubjedls belonging to this divifion lofe the property of raifing an effervefcencc with acids, when they are rich in metal, or contain any vitriolic acid. However, there have been found fome that contained twenty or thirty per cent, of metal, and yet have fhewn their calcareous nature by the nitrous acid. There are no more than three metals hi- therto known to be united in this manner with the calcareous earth, viz. SECT. XXX. I. Calcareous Earth united with Iron,. Terra calcar ea marte intime mixta. White Ipar-like Iron Ore, Minera ferri alba. The Stahljiein or IVeifes Eifenerz of the Germans. 1. This ore, however, is not always white, but commonly gives a white powder when rubbed. 2. It becomes black in the open air, as like- wife in a calcining heat. D 3. In 54 A SYSTEM OF 3. In this laft circumfl:ance it lofes thirty^ or forty per cent, of its weight, which by diftillarion has been found owing to the water that evaporates *, and it is pofTible that fome fmali quantity of vitriolic acid may, at the fame time, evaporate with the water. 4. It is of all the iron ores the moll eafy to melt, and is very corrofive when melted. This kind is found, . SECT. XXXI. A,' Loofei Miner a ferri alba pulverulent ay and is phe mouldered part of the indurated fort. a. Black. Is like foot. It is found at WeflerTil- verberget in Kopparberg Sian in Sweden among the earth that covers the wdiite iron ore." h. Dark brown. This fome what refembles umbre, and is found to this day at Solfls-ienfberget in Norberg in the province of Weflmanland. SECT. XXXII. B» Indurated, Indurata. I . Solid, of no diftincl particles, Solida par^ ticulis impalpahilihus, a. Red, Miner a ferri calcarea rubra. Looks like red ochre, or the red has- matites, but diflblves in the acid of ni- tre with a great effervefcence. It is found at Hellefors in the province of ■Weft- MINERALOGY; 35 Weftmanland, and at Grafberg in 'Gran- gierde in the province of Dalarne. SECT. XXXIII. 2. Scaly, Particulis micaceis. a. White, from NalTau Siegen, and Wefter- filverberget in the province of Weftman- land. h. Blackilh grey, in Smalkalden, and the Old-mines at HelleforfTen in Weftman- land *. 3. Spar-like, Spatofa, a. Light brown, from NafTaii Siegen, and Smalkalden. - 4. Drufen, Bnijica, a. Blackifh brown, from Smalkalden. b. White.- 1. Porous. This is often called Eifen-- hlute^ or flos ferri. It is found at Wef- ter-filverberget. 2. Cellular, from Wefler-filverberget J. SECT. XXXIV. 2. Calcareous Earth united with Copper, TVr- ra calcarea croco feu cake Vejieris intrinfecs mixta, * In England in the Pored of Dean, where it is called Grey Ore, and at Bigrig Moor in Cumberland. J Thefe kinds, in regard to their texture, are fo like thofe calcareous ftones we call Limeftones (Seel, ix.) and Spars (Se before it be evidently demon- 11 rated. It is very likely, that a quartz may be found which is inti- mately mixed vyith a calcareous earth, and fuch is, perhaps, rhe Hungarian fparry quartz (Seel. li. C.), which, however, 1 recommend for further examination. The quartz in general, and cfpecially its Cridals, are very commonly thought, when yet in their foft or diffolved Hate, to have included within them fome vegetables, for inhance, grafs and mofs. This I cannot abfolutely deny, but I muft at the fame time obferve, that it deferves to be carefully ex- amined, if that, which is ihewm as a grafs, be not an afbef- tos, or a draited cockle, and the mofs, only branched vacui- ties filled 'with earth, which, by their being raraofe, bear a vegetable appearance : it is very common in agates, and makes them of lefs value than otherwife they would be ; this is moll generally the cafe with thofe Hones, which are fnewn as including vegetables, and for my own part I have never been fo fortunate as to meet with any ethers. Vv'hen the rock criftals are lemi-tranfparent, or intermixed with opaque veins, they are, by the Swedilh lapidaries, called ^'lilk criHals ; when they are found in form of round peb- Eies, v/hich is cccahoncd by their being tolled about and rubbed againll one another by floods, or by the fea, they are called by the Englilh lapidaries, Pebble cryllals. They come from tite Indies, Siberia, and other places, but thefe cannot be rang' d feparately, for evident reafons, or otherwife for fcaions already mentioned in their proper places. which MINERAL OGYv €t which it fo nearly refembles, that it is not eafy to point out fuch characters as fhall rea- dily diftinguifh it from them. The bell way, perhaps, will be to fpeak of its pro- perties comparatively ; and then we may fay that, 1. It is more uniformly folid, and not fo much cracked in the mafs as the quartz j and, 1. It is more pellucid than the jafper. 3. It bears being expofed to the air, without decaying, better than the jafper, but not fo well as the quartz, 4. It is better for making of glafs than the jafper, but is not quite fo good as quarts for that purpofe, 5. When ever there has been an opportu- nity in this matter of its fhooting into criftals, quartz criilals are always found in it-, jult as if the quartz had made one of its conftituent parts, and had on cer- tain circumilances been fqueezed out of it ; this is to be feen in every hollow flint, and its clefts, which are alv/ays filled up with quartz. 6. It often fhews moil evident marks of having been originally in a foft and llimy ftate. The feveral varieties cf this fpecies have obtained diftincl names, more with refpe^l to their colours, than from any real difference in their fubflance ; bur thefe are ftiil neceffary to be retained, as . uie only names ufed by jev/eliers and others, woho know how to value them ac- cordingly,' S E C T. 6i A SYSTEM OF SECT. LV. I, The Opal. Opalus P^ederota, It is the moft beautiful of all the flint kind, owing to the changeable appearance of its colours by reflexion and refradion, and mufl: therefore be defcribed under both thefe circumftances. a. The Opal of Nonnius, the Sangenon of the Indians. This appears olive-coloured by reflec- tion, and feems then to be opaque, but \vhen held againfl: the light, is found tranfparent, and of a fine ruby red. That opal is fuppofed to have been of this kind, which Pliny mentions in his Natural Hiflory, chap. 307. fe6t. xxi and which he fays, was in the fenator No- nius’s pofleflion, who rather fuffered ba- nifhment, than part with it to Antony. This ftone was in Rome at that time valued at 20000 fefterces. But the {lone here particularly defcribed, was found in the ruins of Alexandria; it is about the fize of a hazle-nut, and was bought for a trifle of a French druggift, named Roboly, and prefented to the French ge- neral conful Lironcdurt, who afterwards offered it to fale in feveral places, for the fum of 40,000 rixdollars. See Haffel- quift’s Travels to the Eaft, under the ar- ticle of Opal. ^ ^ This very Hone was in the year 1763 in the pofTeffion of his excellency the duke de Nivernois, then ambalTador to the Britilh court, and I have often been honoured by his ex- cellency of having it for fome days in my polTeirion. D. C. There MINERALOGY. There is, however, another of the fame icind in Sweden, which by reflexion ap- pears rather brown ; but by refradlion is red, with violet veins. The white opal. Its ground is white, of a glafs-like complexion, from Vv’hence are thrown out green, yellow, and bluifli rays •, but it is of a reddifh or rather flame colour, when held againfl: the light. 1. Of many colours. The oriental opal. 2. Of a milky colour % from Eibenfliock, in Saxony. 3. Bluifli, and Lmi-tranfparent. This is not fo much valued, as thofe which are * I have lately got aTmall piece of pfeudo-agate, from the Eaft-Indies, which is of a yeilovvifh brown, and pale blue, or rather milky colour, with a fhining brightnefs, exactly like that of the milky opals of this fedion, and received alfo fome other fpecimens found at St. Georgio, near Turin, in Piedmont, there called by the name, Pfeudo agate (Baftard agate), a name which feems very well adapted to this Hone, fince in every refpedt, hardnefs excepted, it comes neareft to the agates ; becaufe, i.Itis tranfparent in the fame degree as agates, and varied with red and grey colours, inter- fperfed fonietimes with white opaque veins, or rings, and black dendritical figures. 2. It is of a very fine and lliining texture, when broke, rather fuperior to that of the agates, but fo foft, that it fcarce yields any fparks, when ftruck aga irdi Heel; and does not admit of any polilh, but what is inferior to the luftre of its natural texture ; however, it llightly marks common window glafs. 3. When broke through the den- drites, it is as fmooth and fliining at that place as in any other ; and thefe dendrites vanifli in the fire, without leaving any pores in the fione. 4. It does not melt before the flame, by the blow-pipe, but becomes perfeftly white and opaque. 5. Nor is it fuflble even with borax, 6. It does not ferment with the acid of nitre. 64 A SYSTEM OF. more opaque, becaufe it is caficr to be imitated by art f, SECT LVI. The Cat’s Eye. Pfeudopalus, This ftone is opaque, and refledls green and yellowiOi rays from its furface, and is found in Siberia *, Sometimes this flone is furrounded with a white cruft, like common flints in the ftrata of chalk ; which cruft has likewife the fame efte(ft as that of the flint, when this laft-mentioned has been previoufly freed from the adherent chalk; viz. i. It does not ferment nor difiblve in the acid of nitre ; 2. is not fulible by itfelf in the Are ; 3. but melts pretty eafily with borax, though without any effervefcence, contrary to what we obferve with calcareous fubftances ; and thus borax will diflblve a quantity equal to about three quarters of its own bulk, thg h not without difliculty, efpecially towards the end of the operation ; but the glafs becomes quite clear and colour- lefs, inftead of growing v/hite and opaque, as with calcareous fubftances. E. t Not only this, but alfo fome of the other kinds of opals, have been well imitated by art, there being found compo- fitions of glafs, which fhew very different colours by refrac- tion from what appear by refledlion. A curious antient one of this kind is to be feen in the Royal Abbey of St. Dennis, near Paris, which is green on the outfide, and (hews a fine ruby colour when viewed againft the light. And lately an ingenious gentleman at London made fome paftes, which are of a yellowifh dark brown by refledlion ; but fome of which, when held againft the light, appear of a fine blue colour, and others either purple, or like hyacints, garnets and rubies. * The earlier writers on ftones mention other varieties of this kind ; for inftance, the O cuius Mundi §, which, after hav- § There are in the Britilh Mufaeum at London, three of thefe ftones called Ocnlui Mundi. The largeft of them is about the bignefs of a cherry-ftone, though in an oval form. It is opaque, and its colour like that of a common yellow pea ; it may be fcratched, though not with- out difficulty, by a knife ; it feems however to leave a mark on com- mon glafs, and does not ferment with the acid of nitre. When it has Jain in water fome hours, it becomes tranfparent, and of a yellow amber colour. This change begins foon after the immerfion, and at one end, in form of a little fpot (but ia a fmall one of the fame kind MINERALOGY. 65 SECT. LVIL 3: The Onyx. Onyx Camehuja. ivlemphites. This ftone is the hardeft of the flinty tribe, and conflfls of differently coloured veins, which run parallel to one another, fometimes in ftraight, fometimes in curved lines. It is found of two forts. a. Nail-coloured onyx, having pale flefli- coloured, and white lines. From the river Tomm in Siberia. h. With black and white lines. The Oriental onyx. The old Romans were accuflomed to cut figures on the ftraight-lined onyxes in relief, which they called Camehuja \ thefe are ftill counterfeited, and called Cama- yeu. Thofe which confifl: of concentric circles were called Memphites ; and we have now of this kind cut to be fet in ing been laid in water, fhineslike apiece of red-hot charcoal; the Afteria, which is faid to fhew luminous liars on its furface, &c. But thefe are no longer to be met with, fince falhion has given preference to the more tranfparent hard Hones ; and it is alfo very difucult rightly to underHand the defcrip- tions of antient authors, in regard to colours, and their dif- ferent mixtures with one another J. kind the beginning is round the edges) which increafes by flow degrees until the whole ftone is become uniformly clear throughout : whea taken out of the water, it lofes its tranfparency, firfl: at one end, then gradually over the remainder, until the whole ft®ne has recovered its former opacity ; and this change happens in lefs time than that of its becoming tranfparent. No other experiments have yet been made upon this ftone, becaufeit is fo very feldom to be met with ; and thefe are not fufficient to determine exaftly of what kind it is. E. t Amongft thefe cannot be reckoned the Tourmaline, fo much re- nowned of late for its eleftrical qualities. It is but a cryftallifed cockle, of a green or brown colour, more or lefs deep, fo as to turn to a black, and fometimes to a bluifli colour, when looked through : others appear quite black. [See Seft. LXXV.) E. The Brafilian emerald feems to have the fame properties of becoming eleftrified pofitively in one fide, and negatively in the other : it belongs alfo to the Shirl kind, [See SeU:. XLVin. Notef.] F rings,. A SYSTEM OF rings, under the name of OccM di Gatti\ which, however, ought not to be con- founded with the pfeudopal, (Se6b. Ivi.) or cat’s-eye. SECT. LVIII. ’4. The Chalcedony, or white agate,’ I a flint of a white colour, like milk di- luted with water, more or lefs opaque : it has veins, circles, and round fpots. It is faid to be fofter than the onyx, but much harder, than thofe agates which are fometimes found of the fame colour. e. The white opaque Chalcedony, or Cacho- long^ from the Buckarifh Calmucks. This was firfl made known by one Renez, a Swedifh officer, who for feveral years had been in that country. The inhabitants find this flint on the banjcs of their rivers, and work idols and domeftic vefiels out of it. h. Of white and femi-tranfparent ftrata, fron\ Ceylon. c. Bluifli grey, from Ceylon and Siberia. SECT. LIX. 5. The Carnelian, Carniolus. Is of a browniffi red colour, and often en- tirely brown. Its name is originally derived from its refemblance to fleffi, or to water- mixed with blood. a. Red, from the Eafl, and Turky. h. Yellov/iffi brown, looks like yellow am- ber, from the river Tomm, in Siberia. It is faid not to be fo hard as the Chal- cedony. SECT. 6? MINERALOGY. SECT- LX. The Sardonyx. Is a mixture of the chalcedony and car- nelian, fometimes ftratum-wife, and fome- times- confufedly blended and mixed toge- ther. a. Striped with white and red ftrata : this ferves as well cut in cameo as the onyx. h. White, with red dendritical figures. This very much refembles that agate which is called the Mocha ftone, but with this difference, that the figures are of a red colour in this, inftead of black, as in that agate. I have unwillingly diflinguifhed the onyx, carnelian, chalcedony, fardonyx, and agate, as feparate fpecies, fince there is no real difference between them, except fome inexplicable degrees of hardnefs ; but I have been induced to continue thefe names for the reafons before given in liv. SECT. LXL 7. The Agate, Achates. Thi^ name is given to flints that are va- riegated with different colours, promifcuotiflv blended together \ and they are efleemed in proportion to their mixture of colours, their beauty and elegance. Hence alfo they have obtained variety of names, mofbly Greek, as if the bufmefs of the lapidary in putting of them, and admiring their feveral beauties and figures, had been derived from that nation alone. F 2 As •A SYSTEM OF es As it ever was and muft be very difficult to give intelligent defcriptions of colours, fo we are quite at a lofs to underfland the meaning of the antients in this refpedt ; but this indeed is of little confequence, as we feem to have the fame right, under the fame circumftances, of inventing new names for them ; and that in whatever language we pleafe. Neverthelefs I have defcribed fome few varieties of thofe which at this time are the moft common, to ferve as inftances. c. Brown opaque agate, with black veins, and dendritical figures, the Egyptian pebble. I, Of a chalcedony colour, Achates chalce- donifans, f. Semi-tranfparent, with lines of a blackifii brown colour, and dendritical figures, the Mocha ftone. This is much efteemed, and makes a valuable part of fome colledfions, where * it has a place chiefly for the fake of its figures, refembling vegetables, animals, &c. which however are often improved by art. d. Semi-tranfparent with red dots. Gemma divi Stephani, When the points are very minute, fo as to give the ftone a red appearance, it is by fome called Sardea. e. . Semi-tranfparent, with clouds of an orange colour. /. Deep red or violet, and femi-tranfparent. g. Of many colours, or variegated. h. Black. There mineralogy. ^ 6 y There is in Europe great quantities of mod varieties of agates particularly at Oberftein in the Ealatinate, where they are cut and polifhed : but they are like- wife found in every part of the world. In Sweden there is not yet, as far as I know, more than one fpecies of agate found •, namely, at Gafebeck, in the pro- vince of Skone, which is of a white and deep red colour. SECT. LXIL 8. Common Flint, Silex communis Pyroma- chus. Is really of the fame fubftance as the agate ; but as the colours are not fo ilriking * I have lately got a fpecimen of a hollow agate ball, with pale amethifts in the infide, between which is cryllallifed a calcareous fubftance into a fibrous form. Thefe fibres are parallel, white, Ihining, and very minute, exactly refembling the fineft alheft, for which it alfo might be miftaken, if it was to be judged only by the eye. But by experiment it is found neither to be an afbeftus nor a gypfum, which fometimes fhoot aKo into a fibrous form, but entirely a pure calcareous fubftance. The whole mafs does not adhere together, but is nearly divided into fmall triangles, which are placed upon one another, fo as almoft to form a large figure of the farae kind. Thefe fibres however, although very minute, may be found by means of a proper manifying-glafs, to be of an angular figure, like thofe mentioned in the note at page 82. The fhape of balls and irregular nodules, is the moft general form In which agates and Hints are commonly found. Neverthe- lefs, befides what I have feen in feverai collcdlions in London and abroad, I have likewife fome fpecimens of native filver, from Potofijia the Spanifti Weft Indies, which run in a grey and blue tranfparent agate, with white opaque veins ; which feems to confirm the opinion, that agates may form veins in. the rocks, as well as other forts of ftones. [See the note of Sea. LXIIL] E. *68 A SYSTEM OF or agreeable, it is commonly confidered a§ a different fubflance. a. Blackifli grey, from the province of Skone. h. Yellow femi-tranfparent, from France. c, Whitifb grey* d, Yellowlfli brown. When the flints are fmall, they are in England called pebbles *, and the Swedifli failors, who take them as ballafl, call them fingeL SECT. LXIIL Chert, Petrojilex^ Lapis Corneus, Th« Hornftein of the Germans. Is of a coarfer texture than the preced- ing, and alfo lefs hard, which makes it con- fequently not fo capable of a polifh. It is femi-tranfparent at the edges, or where it is broke into very thin pieces. a» Chert of a flefli colour, from Carl- Schakt, at the filver-mine at Salberg, in the province of Weflmanland. h, Whitifli yellow, from Salberg. c. White, from Krifliersberg, at Nya Kop- parberget, in Weflmanland. d, Greenifli, from Preftgrufvan, at Helle- fors in Weftmaniand * There are not yet any certain chara6lers known, by which the Cherts and Jafpers may be dillinguilhed from each other : by fight, however, they can eafily be difcerned, viz. the former, or chert, appearing femi-tranfparent, and of a fine fparkling texture, on being broken ; whereas the jafper is grained, dull, and opaque, and has exadlly the ap- pearance of a dried clay : the chert is alfo found forming larger or fmaller veins, or in nodules like kernels in the rock; whereas the jafper, on the contrary, fometimes conftitutes the_ chief fubflance of the higheft and mod extended chains MINERALOGY. ©r mountains. The chert is iikewife found plentifully in the neighbourhood of I'caly limeftone, as flint is in the lUata of chalk. What connexion there may be between thefe bo- dies, perhaps time will difcover. But flints and agates being always found in loofe and Angle irregular nodules, and never in rocks, as the chert, is a circumflance very infuflicient to eftablifli a difference be- tween them ; for there is agate near Conftantinople running vein-like acrofs the rock with its country, of the fame hard- nefs, and as fine and tranfparent as thofe other agates, which are found in round nodules at Deux Fonts. We muft there- fore content ourfelves with this remark concerning flints, That they feem to be the only kind of flcne hitherto known, of which a very large quantity has been formed in the fnape of loofe or feparate nodules, each furrounded with its proper cruft ; and that the matter w'hich conilituces this cruft, ha.s been feparated from the reft of the fubftance in like manner as fandiver, or glafs gall, feparates from, and fwims upon glafs during its vitrification ; tho’ fometirnes the formation of this cruft may have been prevented by the too fudden harden- ing of the matter itfelf : 1 fhali therefore take the liberty to call this matter of the ciuft, which fomeiimss is an in- durated terre verte, by the name of Agan-galL Other fpecies of ftones, which are found in loofe pieces, or nodules, exoicpt ores, and fome forts of ftaiaClites, fhevv eviuentiy by their cracks, angles, and irregular figures, that they have been torn from rocks, tolled about, and rubbed againft one another in torrents, or by fome other violent motions of water. That films have originally been in afoft ftate, as 1 have mentioned, is eafy to be feen in the Egyptian pebbles, which have impreftions of fmall ftones, fand, and ibmetimes perhaps grafs, which however have not had anv ingrefs into the very flint, but feem only to have forced the abovementioned agate gall or cruft out of the way f . G. Jafper, Jafpis, Ail the opaque hints are called by this name, whole texture refembles dry clay, and which have no other known quality, whereby ft The erroneous iio^ion of the once foft ftate of ftones, fee difcutTed in vci) Tiift Lecture on Fcii;’.. D. CL SECT. l.XIV. they 70 A SYSTEM OF they may be diftinguiflied from other flints, except that they may be more eafily melted in the Are , and this quality perhaps m.ay proceed from fome heterogeneous mixture, probably of iron. 1, Pure jafper, Jafpis pur us. Which by no m.eans yet known can be decompounded. e. Green with red fpecks or dots, the Heliotrope.^ or blood-ftone, frorn Egypt, h. Green, from Bohemda. c. Red, Biajpro rojfo Italorum, d. Yellow. €. Red with yellow fpots and veins, T)ia[~ pro fiorido of Sicily, Spain, andCon- ilantinople. /. Black, from Finland, and Nefkott, in the province of Jemtland. SECT. LXV. 2 . Jafper containing iron, ^cifph inartialis^ Simple. A. Coarfe grained. c. Red and reddifh brown. Simple^ from the Hungarian gold mines. B. Steel grained, or flne grained. Rcddiili brown, from Altenberg, in SiixoY^y ; looks like the red ochre or chalk ufed for drawing, ahd has par- tition veins, which are undluous to the touch, like a fine clay, and other like kinds. C. Of a folia and iliining texture, like a flag. ^ 6-. i_, iv ci -Coiotii ed, i4.nd 1?. Deep red Both thcie are found at ‘ ’ Lang- MINERALOGY. 71. Langbanfhyttan in the province of Wer- meland, and at Sponwik in Norway. c. Yellow, from Bohemia. This laft mentioned, when calcined, is attradled by the load-ftone, and being alfayed, yields 12 to 15 per cent, of iron. * Jafper, when frefh broke, fo nearly refernbles a bole of the lame colour, that it can only be diftinguifhed by its hardnefs. In the parifh of Orfa, in the province of Dalarne, there is a red bole found in fpaces like glands or kernels, in that fort of fandftone from which grindllones are cut ; and fome miles diftant, in the rocks at Serna, a red jafper of the fame colour and textuie as the above bole, is found in a much harder kind of fandftone. In other places jafper is found in fach unftuous clefts, as if they had contained unc- tuous clays ; as pipe clays, and red chalk ; and there are likewife lome jafpers which imbibe water. May it not then be fuppofed with fome probability, that jafper is an indu- rated bole, a reddle, or terre verte ? That jafper, as well as thefe, confifts of clay and iron ; though, by reafon of its being hardened, it becomes as difficult to extradl thefe prin- ciples from it, as to reduce a fmall quantity of fcorified iron to its metallic form, when melted with a large quantity of flag or glafs ? That the fame bole or clay, together with another fubftance, perhaps lime, after being dilfolved by a mcnftruum, not yet determined, is fufficient for the produc- tion of flint ftone ? and that fo much of the bole as was fuperfluous, being feparated from the mafs, is found ad- hering to the furface, or in the fifTures, &c. Thus one might imagine, that jafper could eafily be pro- duced, and that the foft kinds might become harder by length of time ; but its particles cannot be fuppofed to ap- proach nearer and nearer to one another during the harden- ing ; nor can it be imagined, that the jafper fhould by that means become of a finer texture. On the other hand, we know extremely well, and have the experience of it every where, that porphyry in the rocks decays into a white cruft, wherever it is expofed to the air, although internally it re- mains very hard and black ; for inftance, at Klitten, in Elf- dalen, in Sweden. From whence it may be fuppofed, that water, which wafiies off the mouldered particles, muft by degrees collefl them fomewhere, and at length prefent us F 4 with 72 A SYSTEM OF SECT. LXVL H. Rhombic Quartz, Spa turn fcintillans Felt- This has its name from its figure -f-, but feems to be of the fame fubfcance as the jafper. I have not however ranked them together, for want of true marks to diftin- guifh the different forts of the fiinty tribe from one another. This kind is found, 1. Sparry. a. White. h. Reddifh brown, occurs in the Swediih and alfo in the foreign granites. c. Pale yellow. d, Greenifii. This lafl; mentioned refembles very much the fchorl or cockle-fpar, (Sefl. Ixxiii.) but is neither fo eafy to melt in the fire, nor of fo exacl a figure, 2. Criftallifed. w’nh them in form of an earth, which perhaps we tio not know in that ftate. It may be aiked, Whether this earth will be dudlile as clay, or rough to the touch as powder of bricks ? Perhaps Tripoly is produced in this manner. * The Germans and other nations call this fubftance Fdd-fpat, tiat is feild cr vague fpar ; a name very inadequate to its nature, as it touches no wife on the fparry dais. I have therefore, in my Leflures, given it the Englifh name of Rhombic Quartz, a name very fignihcant, as the name quartz exprelTes its clafs ; and the quality of it, of always breaking into angular (rhombic) fragments, is alfo expreiled by the adjedive of rhombic. D C. f What Crerdiedt meai.s, that the feld-fpat has its name from its figure, us uiiinteHlgible. D. C. .f. In 73 MINERALOGY; A In feparate or dlftincR: rhomboidal criftals, from the iron mine called Moff- grufvan, at Norbery in Weftmanland SECT. LXVIL Observation on the S i l i c e o u's Order:’ The ceconomical ufes of this order are not fo manifold as thofe of the Calcareous and Ar- gillaceous clafles •, however, moral refieflions laid afide, it will be necefifary briefly to mention how far this order is confidered and employed in com- mon life. The Europeans have no farther trouble with the precious flones, than either to cut them from their natural or rough figure, or to alter them, when they have been badly cut in the Indies ; in which latter circumftance they are called Lahora : and it may be obferved, that for cutting the ruby, fpinell, ballas, and chryfolite, the oil of * This fpecies is very feldom found alone in form of veins, and (till more rarely as conllituting the fubftance of whole mountains ; but is generally mixed either with quartz and mica, as in the granites, or with jafper, having fome occafional concurring particles of quartz, cockle, and horn- blende, as in the porphyry. If the rhombic quartz and jafper were of the fame fpecies, that fort of porphyry which is made up of thefe two bodies only, ought to be ranked among the jafpers, inftead of being placed with the Saxa in my Appendix, Se6l. cclxvi. It is however obfervable on old monuments, which are expofed to the open air, that though the porphyry has de- cayed, and confequently loll its polilTi, yet granite of the fame age, compofed for the mod part of rhombic quartz, has kept its lullre. This, however, does not contradict the polTibility of rhombic quartz being cf the fame fubftance as the jafper ; becaufe the calcareous foar is found to bear the v/eather,, and even fire, better than the limellone. vitriol 74 A SYSTEM OF vitriol is required, inftead of any other liquid, to be mixed with the diamond powder. If the petty princes in thofe parts of the Indies where precious ilones are found, have no other power nor riches proportionable to the value of thefe gems j the reafon of it is as obvious as of the general weaknefs of thofe countries where gold and filver abound, viz. be- caufe the inhabitants, placing a falfe confidence in the high value of their pofTeffions, negledl: ufeful manufadlures and trades, which by degrees produces a general idlenefs and ignorance thro’ the whole country. On the other hand, perhaps fome countries might fafely improve their revenues by fuch traffic. In Saxony, for example, there might probably be other gems found, befides aqua- marines and topazes ; or even a greater trade carried on with thefe than at p refen t, without danger of bad confequences ; efpecially under the diredlion of a careful and prudent govern- ment. The half precious ftones, fo called, or gems of lefs value, as the opal, the onyx, the chalcedony, the carnelian, and the coloured and uncoloured rock criftals, have been employed for ornaments and CEConomical utenfils, in which the price of the workmanfhip greatly exceeds the intrinfic value of the llones. The antients ufed to en- grave concave or convex figures on them, wffiich now-a-days are very highly valued, but often with lefs reafon than modern performances of the fame kind. Thefe ftones are worked by means of emery on plates of lead, copper, and tin, or with other inftruments ; but the common work on agates is performed at Oberftein, with grind- fiones, at a very cheap rate. When once fuch a manufac- MINERALOGY; 75 manufa6lory is eftabliflied in a country, it is necefTary to keep it up with much induftry and prudence, if we would wifli it to furmount the caprice of falhions ; fince how much foever the natural beauty of thefe ftones feems to plead for their pre-eminence, they will at fome periods unavoidably link in the efteem of mankind, but they will likewife often recover, and be reftored to their former value. The grindftones at Oberftein are of a red co- lour, and of fuch particular texture, that they neither admit of any poliih, nor are they of too loofe a compofition. Mod part of the flinty tribe is employed for making glafs, as the quartz, the flints and peb- bles, and the quartzofe lands. The quartz, however, is the befl: ; and, if ufed in due pro- portion with refpecl to the alcali, there is no danger of the giafs being eafily attacked by the acids ; as has fometimes happened with glafs made of other fubftances : for inftance, of bot- tles filled with Rhenifli and Mofelle wines, during the time of a voyage to China. In the fmelting of copper ores, quartz is ufed to render the flag glaflfy, or to vitrify the iron *, quartz being more ufeful than any other done, to regain or revive this metal. The prefence of the quartz in the rock-dones, (Seed, cclxii.) and alfo in crucibles, and fuch vef- fels, contributes mod of all to their power of redding the fire : it appears likewife probable, that the quartzofe matter miakes the grind and whetdones fit for their intended purpofes. SECT. 7 ^ '4 SYSTEM OF SECT. Lxvm. The Third Order. The Garnet Kind, T errce Granate^. The matter compofing the fubftance of garnet, and fchorl or cockle, except that fmall portion which is metallic, does in its indurated ttate re- femble the filiceous tribe, fo far as relates to external appearance and hardnefs ; and therefore I would willingly have followed the opinion commonly received, of confidering thefe two fubftances as ariling from one another, if I had not been perfuaded to the contrary by the fol- lowing qualities of the garnet. j. It is more fufible, in proportion as it con- ' ' tains lefs metallic matter, and is more tranfparent or glalTy in its texture *, which is quite contrary to the filiceous kind. Thus is the reafon, perhaps, why the gar- net, mixed with the fait of kelp, may on a piece of charcoal be converted to a glafs by the blow^-pipe, which cannot be done with the flints : and, 3. Why the mofl: tranfparent garnet may, without any addition, be brought to a black opaque flag by the fame means. 4. It is never, fo far as is hitherto known, found pure, or without fome mixture of metal ; and efpecially iron, w^hich may be extracted by the common methods. The garnet matte.^ during the crlflallifa- tion, l^as either been formed in fmall de- tached quantities, or elfe has had the power of liiooling into criftals, though clofdy mineralogy. 77 clofely confined in different fubftanoes : (ince crarnets are generally found difperfed in other folid ftones, and oftentimes in the harder ones, fuch as quartz and chert SECT. LXIX. I, Garnet, Grunatus, Which is a heavy and hard kind of ftone, criffallifing in form of polygonal balls, and is moftly of a red, or reddifh brown co- lour. A, Garnet mixed with iron, Granakis mar^ tialis, • It IS certain, that the metalHc calces being mixed with other earthy fubftances, make great alteration in refpeft to their fufibility; and we know from experience, that the prefence of iron in the argillaceous, and mod particularly in the micaceous kinds, renders them fufible ; however, though there may be good reafons for confidering the garnet as a quartz impregnated with iron ; yet as quartz becomes lefs fufible by any addition of iron, of which the Swedilh Torrfien^ (Seft. ccxiii. in the note) a martial ore, commonly mixed with quartz, is an inffance ; and as even the fpecies of quartz naturally mixed with that metal, (Se£l. lili. A.) are far lefs eafiiy fufible than the garnet ; it might perhaps be better to call the garnet a ftone of a diFerent order, until by fufheient experiments we may have reafen to reduce the number of the earths. Though if we fnould ever arrive at an exafl method of clafiing in this refpefl, perhaps the CEConomical ufe of thefe bodies will rather require fuch a dif- tribution of them as fliall more regard their prefent exiftence, than that v/hich they have been originally derived from. The garnet earth, fo far as I know, is not yet found, but in an indurated flare; and, as fuch, it is divided into the garret, and into fhirl or cockle, and that in regard to the figure of their criflals, more than any thing die ; though their colour has alfo had fome fiiare in this diviiion. I have here followed cuflom, which, perhaps, may have fome rea- fon, however ill founded it be. I. Coarfe 78 A SYSTEM OF 1. Coarfe grained garnet ftones, without any particular figure, Granatus parti- culls granulatis Jigura indeterminata \ in Swedifh called Granat-berg ; in Ger- man Granatjlein. a, Reddifli brown garnet, found in the mine called Granat-Skierpningen, at Nya Kopparberg, in the province of Weftmanland. h, Whitifli yellow, from Torrake- berget, in the parifti of Gorborn, in Wermeland. f. Pale yellow, from Sikfioberget,| and Vefterfilfverberget, in Kopparberg- flan, in Sweden. 2. Cryftallifed garnet, Granatus cryftal- lifatus. a. Black, from Swappawari, in Lap- land. h. Red, femi-tranfparent, and cracked, from Engfo, at the Lac Malaren, in Weftmanland. Tranfparent, Granatus gemma, c, Reddifli yellow tranfparent, the ja- cinth, or hyacinth, Hyacintus gem- ma^ from Greenland, and Bergen’s Stift in Norway. I am not certain whether the orien- tal jacinth and that from Siberia are of the fame kind ; but this garnet from Greenland is by the jewellers fold as a jacinth. d, Reddifli brown, from Kallmora and Stripas, at Norbery, in Weftmanland. e, Green, from Eibenftock in Saxony, and Gellebeck, in Norway. /. Yellowifh green, from Gellebeck. . SECT. MINERALOGY; 72 SLCT. LXX. B, Garnet mixed with iron and tin, Granatus crocis Martis et Jovis mixtus. 1. Coarfe grained, without any particular figure, Granatus particulis granulatis Jigu--, ra indeterminata, a, Blackiili brown, from Moren, at Wef- tanfors, in Weftmanland. 2. Cryftallifed. a. Blackiili brown, from Moren. Light green or white, from Gokum," at Dannemora, in the province of Up- land. The Bergs- radets, or mine-mafters, Mr, Brandt and Mr. Rinman have publilhed fome experiments on this kind of garnet, in the Memoirs of the Royal Academy of Sciences at Stockholm. SECT. LXXI. C, Garnet mixed with iron and lead, Gra- natus calcihtis Martis et Batumi mixtus, I. Cryftallired. a. A reddilh brown, from Arfet, in the parifh of Froderyd, in the province of Smoland. This v/as difcovered, and accurately examined by the Bergs-radet Mr. Von Swab *. When any of the garnet kind is to be tried for it5 con- taining metal, the iron ought to be melted out of it by the common procefs; and if the garnet, at the fame time, contains both tin and lead, thefe two metals are likewife included in the iron : however, they may be extraded out of the iron. / So A SYSTEM OF SECT. LXXIL 2- Cockle or Shirl, Bafaltes% Corneus cryfiaU lijatus JVallerii ; Stannum cryftallis coliimnari- bus nigris hinnau Is a heavy and hard kind of ftone, which fhoots into cr)'fl:als of a prifmatical figure, and whofe chief colours are black or green. Its fpecific gravity is the fame as the garnets, viz.' betv/een 3000 and 3400, though al- ways proportionable to their different foli- dity. A. Cockle, or fhirl, mixed with iron, Bafaltes martialis, I. Coarfe, without any determined figure, Bafaltes particulis palpabilibus figura in- determinata, a. Green, found in moft of the Swedifh iron mines. by expofing it to a heat augmented by degrees, becaufe then the tin and lead fweat out in form of drops, almoft pure, though always fomewhat mixed with iron. The criftallifations of the garnets are fo far different from one another, that feme have a greater and fome a lefs num- ber of facets, or hdes ; but this has no relation or dependence either on their contained metals, their colour, or their tranfparency ; wherefore, in order to avoid a prolixity, fvhich is unnecefiary, I have omitted fuch varieties, and only obferved that they are round or fpherical, with facets. Be- fides, there is not yet difeovered any figure amongft them which is abfoluteiy particular and remarkable, for the granaius dodecaedres ex rhombis Linnai are dlfperfed every where in the rocks at Kongsberg, in Norway. SECT. MINERALOGY. 8i SECT. LXXIIL 2. Sparry, Bafaltes fpatofus. a. Deep greerf, (the mother of the eme- ralds) from Egypt h. Pale green, from Wefberfilfverberget, and Hagge, at Norberke, Linbaftmoren, at Grangierde, in the province of Weft- manland, &c. €. White, from Silf-udden, at Wefter- filfverberget, Pargas in Finland, the lime-rocks at Lillkyrkie, in the province of Nerike, &c. This occurs very frequently in the fcaly lime-ftones, and its colour changes from deep green to white, in proportion as it contains more or lefs of iron. SECT. LXXIV. 3. Bafaltes particulis fibrofis \ Striated cockle, or fhirl : it looks like fibres, or threads made of glafs. Cf parallel fibres, Bafaltes fihris paraU lellis, ' Black, from Guftavsberg, in the pro- vince of Jemtland, the ifland Uto, in ■ the Lake Malaren, &c. b. Green, in moft of the Swedilli iron mines. €. White, from Wefierfilfverberget, in the province of Weftmanland, Lill- kyrkie in Nerike, and Pargas in Fin- • land. * ThePIafma, or mother of the emerald of authors, is a fine pellucid true quartz, of a green or emerald colour, not a Hone of this kind. D. C. G B. Of A SYSTEM OF. S2 B, Of concentrated fibres, Bafdtes jihrzs ccncentratis \ T he ftarred cockle, or iViirl, from its fibres being laid flellarwife. a. Biackifh green, from Salberg, in Weftmanland, where, being found to- gether with a fteel grained lead ore, the whole is called, gran-ris-malm^ or pine- ore, from its refemblance to the bran- ches of that tree. This kind of cockle ' IS alfo found at Uto, in Malaren. h. Light green, from Kerrbo, at Skin- fkatteberg, in Weftmanland. c. White, at Lillkyrkie in Nerike, Wef- terfilfverberget m Weftmanland, and Pargas in Finland. S E G T. LXXV. 4 . Cryftallifed cockle^ or fhirl, Bafedtes cry- Jiallifatus. ' a. Black, ^ from' France, Yxfio at Nya Kopparberg, in the province of Weft- manland, Umea in Lapland, Ofterbottn in Sweden. " , ^ To this, fpecies of cockle, or fhirl, belong of thofe fubtlances called imperfeii aJbeJH ; and as, the cockle per- fedlly refembles a flag from an iron fnrnace, both in regard to its metallic contents, and its glafTy texture, it is no won- der that it is not foft enough to be taken for an afbeftus. It has however, only for the fake of its flru6ture, been ranked among the afbelH ; and it is furprifing, that the fibrous gyp- fum, from Andrarum, in the province of'Skone, has’efcaped being on the fame account confounded with them. The llriated cockle, or fhirl, compared to the afbefli, is of a fhin- ing and angular furface (though this fometimes requires the aid of the magnifying-glafs to be difeovered) always fome- what tranfparent, and is pretty eafily brought to a glafs with the blow- pipe, without being confumed, .as the pure afbefli feem to be. (See Afbefli, Sed. cii.) Deep MINERALOGY. 83 h. Deep green, from Salberg in Weflman- land. r. Light green, from Enighets-grufvan at Norberg, in Wellmanland, d. Reddilh brown, from Sorwik, at Grengie in Weftmanland, and Glanfhammar, in the province of Nerike. The Tauffstein, from Bafil, is of this colour, and confifbs of two hexagonal criftals of cockle grown together in form of a crofs : this the Roman Catholics wear as an amulet, and is called in Latin, lapis crucifer ^ or the crofs-ftone * j, * It is not impoflible, that there may be fome kinds of cockles, or fliirls, which, beiides iron, alfo contain tin or lead, as the garnets : but I am not quite convinced of it ; though I have been told, that lead has been melted out of a cockle, from Rcdbeck’s Eng, at Umea, in Lapland ; and it f«ems likeA’ife very probable, that the cockles which are found in the Englifh tin mines, may contain fome tin. There are fome criftals of cockle found, which are fufible to a greater degree than any fort of ftone whatfoever : thefe are always of a glafly texture, and femi-tranfparent. i'he figure of the cockle criftals is uncertain, but always prifmatical : the cockle from Yxfio, at Nya Kopparberg, is quadrangular ; the French kind has nine lides, or planes, and the Tauffftein is hexagonal ||. t The crofs-ftone is^compofed of two clafles, for the bails I make a fluor, (See my Leftures) and the erodes on it I agree with our author are accretions of Ihirl, or ceckle. He denominates it, the Bajler Tauffstein, Whether he means by Bafler the city of Bafil, as I have put it, or whether he means Befler, the author who firft deferibed it, I cannot tell ; but cer- tainly it is not found at or near Bafil, being, as far as I know, a local folCl, namely, of St. John de Compoftella, in Anda- lufia in Spain. D. C. jj The name Cockle for thefe fubftances is an old Cornifh mineral name ; but 19 alfo given fometimes to other very different matters. The name Shirl I have now adopted in Englith, from the common German minaral term. We have not in England any great quantity of fpecics of cockles j the chief are found in the tin mines of Cornwall, acd I have feen feme fine criftallifed ki-nds from Scotland, Q % The A SYSTEM OF ^4 SECT. LXXVL Observation on the Garnet Kind. When this kind contains fo much of iron as renders it profitable to be worked, it is confidered as a good iron ore, and no notice is taken of its natural character, in the fame manner as is done with clays and jafpcrs that contain iron : for the richnefs of metal in thefe rifes in a gradual pro- greflion, until they acquire the colour and ap- pearance of the iron itfelf. Thus a kind of garnet is melted in a furnace, not far from Eibenflock, in Saxony, and the lame fpecies is found, and might alfo be em- ployed at Moren, in Weflmanland. Jafpers are for this purpofe melted in Hungary, and clays in England; but as the greated: part of the garnet kind contains fo little iron as to yield only be- tween fix and twelve per cent, which is too poor to be vvorked any where in the w^orld as a profita- ble iron ore, the reft and the greateft part of it being a mere earth, it muft in a natural hiftory be confidered and ranked among the earths. The tin grains fnould have got a place in this or- der, I. If I had known any of them to contain tin in fo fmali a portion as live per cent, as this quan- tity of tin is the moft that ever can be obtained from the garnets ; 2. If it w^as proved that a calx of iron always was mixed 'with it, as in the garnet; and, 3. If I did not believe that the The Eng!i& mineral name of CalJ^ has been ufed by foroe authors as fy- nonvmous with cockles, and is even confounded together at the mines; but the ball, definitely fpeaking, is the fublUncc called Wolifram by the Ger- mane. dec. Garnets, thoutih fmali, are often found in micaceous (lone? in England j but extreme good garnets are found in great plenty alfo in like ftones in Scot- land. D, C, tin MINERALOGY. 85 tin calx might by itlelf take a Ipherical polygonal figure, at its induration., as well as the garnet. The white tin grains, (Sed. ccx.) out of which no tin, but only iron, is to be got, might with more reafon be placed here, if it was not fo ex- cefiively refradory in the fire, and if it did not, at lafl, melted either by itfelf, or with borax, give a deal* and colourlefs glafs, contrary, to what the garnet does, which difference arifes from the different fufibility of tliefe two fubftances. The garnet and cockle are not yet known to me in forni of an earth or clay, taken in the common idea we have of thoie bodies. It is true, that there is a bole found at Swappawari, in Lapland, which has the fame figure as the gar* net ; and the hornblende, (Sed. Ixxxviii.) which is Ibmewhat harder than this bole, has often the appearance of a coclde. We cannot, however, do more than problematically fuppofe them to be the neared related to the garnet kind, as we have not yet difeovered a method how to feparate earths from the contained metals, without de- flroying their natural form, and dpecially from iron, when it is fo fb/ongly united with them, as if it had a part in their formation itfelf SECT. LXXVIL The Fourth Order. The Argillaceous Kind, Argillace..T. The principal charader whereby thefe may be diftinguifhed from other earths, is, that they harden in the fire, and are compounded of very minute particles, by which they receive a d^ad .or dull appearance when broken. G 3 More- 86 A SYSTEM OF Moreover, there are fome of this order which grow foft in water, and, when only moiftened, become du6lile and tenacious : thefe are commonly called clays. Some crack in the water, after hav- ing imbibed a fufficient quantity of it, but do not grow fofter in it, and are therefore in the firfl degree of induration : fome imbibe the water, but do not crack or fall to pieces ; thefe are yet more indurated : and finally, fome there are, in which the water has no ingrefs at all. Thus, by following the fuccefiive gradation of induration of a fubftance, which throughout all thefe cirr cumftaP 4 ces is eafily difcovered to be the fame, one with great reafon conclude, that the hardnefs of the jafper may perhaps be the laft degree of hardnefs, and that this ftone confe- quently confifts of an argillaceous fubilance, (Se6l. Ixv.) that already pofiefies a quality which the Qthpr clays cannot acquire but in the fire ; having, befides, the fame effeft as the boles (Se6t. Jxxxvi.) v/hen melted in the fire together with calcareous or other earths. SECT. LXXVIII. A, Porcellain Clay, Porcellanea^ vulgo Argilla Apyra, Is very refra6lory in the fire, and cannot in any common ftrong fire be brought into fufion ;any farther than to acquire a tenacious foftnefs, without lofing its form : it becomes then of a dim Ihining appearance and folid texture, when it is broke •, firikes fire with fieel ; and has con- fequently the beft qualities required, as a fub- fence whereof vefiels ca|)able of refifting a melt- MINERALOGY. 87 ing and boiling heat, and of holding falts and acids, can be made. It is found, 1. Pure, Pur a. A. DifEifible in water. 1. Coherent and dry. a. White, from Japan. I have feen a root of a tree changed into this clay. (Appendix, Section cclxxxiii.) 2. Friable and dry. a. White, is found in clefts of rocks at Wefterfilfverberget in Weftmanland, and between the coal, in the coal- pits at Boferup, in the province of Skone *. 2. Mixed with phlogifton, and a very fmall quantity of infeparable heterogeneous fub- ftances, Perra porcellanea phlogifio dliifque heterogeneis minima portione mixta. Of tlieie are, A. Diffufible in water, a. White and fat pipe clay, from Cologne and Maeftricht. Lefs undluous is found in fmall fif- fures in a vein of lapis ollaris., at Swart- v/ik, in the parifh of Swerdfio, in the province of Dajarne. h. Of a pearl colour, from Maeftricht. c. Bluifti grey, ha belle terre glaifeixo:n Montmartre, near Paris, in France. d. Grey, France, Hefle, Bofempin, Skone.' * Thefe may be called pure, lince after being burnt, they are quite white, though they have been expafed to a quick melting h^lat ; and it may be queried, if all fuch clays muft not be fomewhat harlh, or at ieaft not undluous to the touch, G 4 Black, 88 A SYSTEM OT e. Black, La terre noire^ at Montmartre, /. Violet, alfo from Montmartre SECT. LXXIX. B. Indurated, IrJurata, Is commonly un(5luous to the touch, and more or lefs dimcult to be cut or turned, in proportion to its different degrees of hard- nels j is not diffufible in water, grows hard, and is very refractory in the fire •, pounded and mixed with water, it will not eaiily co- here in a pafle : however, if it is managed with care, it may be baked in the fire to a mafs, which, being broke, fhews a dull and po- * Thefe contain a phlogifton, which is difeovered by ex- pofing them to a quick and ftrong fire, in which they become quite black interiorly, alTuming the appearance of the com- mon flints, not only in regard to colour, but alfo in regard to hardnefs : but if heated by degrees, they are firft white, and afterwards of a pearl colour. The fatter they feem to be, which may be judged both by their feeling fmooth and unduous, and by their fhining, when feraped with the nail, they contain a larger quantity of the inflammable principle. It is difficult to determine, whether this ftrongly adherent phlogifton is the caufe of the above-mentioned pearl colour, or prevents them from being burnt white in a flrong fire : yet no heterogeneour. fubftance can be extraded from them, except fand, which may be feparated from fome, by means of water, but which fand ’does not make out any of the conllituent parts of the clays. If they be boiled in aqua regis, in order to extrad any iron, they are found to lofe their vifeofity. In the lefs unduous clays, I have found pure quartz in greater and fmaller grains; but ftill I would not venture to afi'ert, that one is produced from the other, accord- ing to the rule I have laid down in Sed. ix. i. I have like- wife found this fort, upon certain occafions, attrad the phlo- giflon in the fire. Thefe remarks may ferve as hints for the lefs experienced, who have a mind to examine thofe clays, which are gf fo great confequenGe for "their ceconomical ufes, rolls mineralogy: 89 rous texture. It takes for the moft part, and without much labour, a fine polifh. It is found, 1, Compad: and foft, Fartlculis zmpalpaM^ Ubus mollis j Smedis, Brian^on, or French chalk. a. White, from the Lands End, in Corn- wall, h. Yellow. c. Red and white. Land’s End : the Soap Earth, Switzerland. It looks like Caftik foap. SECT. LXXX. 2. Solid and compad:, Particulis impalpahilU bus folida ; Steatites, and alfo Soap -Rock. a. White, or light green, from Rifver, in Norway, Bareuth, and Sikfioberget, at Norberke, in Weftmanland. b. Deep green, from Salberg, in Weftman- land, Swartwik, in Dalarne, Jonufwando, in Lapland, Salvifto, at Tamela, in Fin- land, &c. f. Yellow, from Juthyllen, at Salberg, Tor- rakeberget, at Golborn, in the province of Vermeland, and China*. * It is a very difficult matter to fpecify all the varletks of the foap-llones, in regard to their hardnefs or foftnefs, fince they cannot be compared with any ftandard meafure. Thofe from Rifver, Sikfioberg, and China, are a great deal harder and more folid than the Englifh kind, from the Land’s End, which breaks between the fingers; but are foft in compari- 'fon to that from Salberg, which is there called Serpentine ^ al- though both thefe varieties may indifcriminately be made ufe of for cutting and turning. The foft ones, however, are not fo apt to crack, when they are worked, as the harder. But go A SYSTEM OF ; S. E C T. LXXXL Solid, and of vifible particles, Sclida par- ticidis majorihus j Serpentine (lone, ' Lapis Serpentinus, 1. Of fibrous and coherent particles. Lapis ferpentinus fibrofus. This is compofed, as it were, of fibres, and might therefore be confounded with the aibeftus, if its fibres did not cohere fo clofely with one another, as - not to be feen when the ftone is cut and polifhed. The fibres themfeives are large,, and' feem as if they were twifted. a. Deep' green. Is fold for the lapis nephriticus^ and is dug at fome unknown place in Ger- many. h. Light green, from Skienfhyttan, in Weftmanland •, is ufed by the plate* fmiths, inftead of the French chalk. SECT. LXXXIL 2. Finegrained Serpentine ftone, Serpentinus particulis granulatis : the Zoeblitz Serpen- tine. But none of thefe varieties is found in the rock, without being interfperfedwith the unAuous clefts. When they are too many, too clofe to one another, and make the ftone unfit for ufe, they are in this cafe called by theSwedifti miners, Skiolige; and of this kind is a great quantity found at Salberg and Swartwik, Moft part of the foap-rock, which is found in Sweden, is llkewife mixed with glimmer or mica, and then it is called Jelgftenj that is, Ollaris^ Sed. cclxv. a. Black* MINERALOGY. a. Black. b. Deep ^reen. r. Light green. d. Red. e. Bluifh grey. /. White. Thefe colours are all mixed to« gether in the ferpentine ftone, from Zoe- blitz, but the green is the moft predomi^ pant colour. SECT. LXXXIIi; 2* Mixed with iron. Terra prcellanea martt mixta. This is A. Diffufible in water. a. Red, la terre rouge,, from Montmartf^' and China. Some of the bricks which are imported from fomc certain places in Germany, feem to be made of this kind. JS. Indurated. 1. Martial foap earth, Creta Brianzonica martialis, a. Red, from Jarfberg, in Norway.' It is like wife mixed with fome caL careous matter. 2. Martial foap rock, Steatites martialis, a. Black, from Sundborn, in Dalarne, Torrakeberget, in Wermeland, Offer- dal, in Jemtland. b. Red, from Siljejord in Telemarken,' in Norway ♦ Since the iron renders the fo called refraftory clays, as well as other clays, eaiier fufible than they really are by themfelves ; it might be queried, how it can be determined, ef what fpecies cf argillaceous matter thefe confift ? To this it A SYSTEM OF SECT. LXXXIV' B, Stone Marrow, Lithomarga : Keffekil of the Tartars. I have given this name to a kind of clay, which, 1. When dry, is as fat and ilippery as foap : but, 2. Is not wholly diffufible in water, in which it only falls to pieces, either in larger bits, or refembles a curd-like mafs. 3. In the fire it eafily melts to a white or reddifii frothy flag, therefore confequently is of a larger volume than the clay was before being fufed. '4. It breaks into irregular fcaly pieces. A. Of coarfe particles : Coarfe Stone Mar- row. a. Grey, from Ofmundfberget, in the parifli of Rettwik, in Dalarne, and is there called walklera^ that is, fuller’s earth. ' It is mentioned in an account of Ofmundfberget, publifhed in the Tranfaclions of the Academy of Sciences at Stockholm, in the year 1739, BergVradet, or mine- mafter, Mr Tilas . 1 . Whitifh yellow, from the Crim Tartary, where it is called Keffekil, it is anTwered, That they are found together in the fame beds with the porcelain clay : that they have all the fame ex- ternal /’gns, and differ from it only in the colour, being red, brown, or black, in regard to the contained metal : that they are more refradory in the fire than any other martial clay ; and that, though they may be reduced lb as to relemble a black or iron- coloured flag, they yet retain their form. MINERALOGY. 93 and is faid to be ufed for wafliing inftead of foap. B. Of \Try fine particles: Fine Stone Marrow. ^ ^ a. Yellowifii brown, Term Lemma. Is of a Alining texture, falls to pieces in die water with a crackling noife ; it is more indurated than the precedent, but has otherwile' the fame qualifies * • SECT. LXXXV, ! C. Bole, Bolus. Is a fine and denfe clay of various colours,' containing a great quantity of iron, which makes it impofiible to know themat'ural and fpecifical qualifies of the bole idelf, by any eafy method hitherto in ufe. It is not ‘ eafily foftened in water, contrary, to what the por- celain and the corrimon clays are E.% but either falls to pieces in form, of fmall ' grains, or repels the water^ and cannot be made du<5lile. In r the fire it grow’s black, and is then attradled by the load- Hone. * This cannot properly be called a fuller* s earthy fince it neither is of that kind iifed in the fulling bulinefs, nor is likely to be applicable to it J. It Ts, belides, a very fcarce clay. It is not found indurated, fo far as I know ; and if it (hould at any time be difcovered, it will be necefTary to examine, if it is not a Zeolites (or the eighth order), or at lead very nearly approaching to it, in regard to the elFefls both undergo in the fire. $ As the beft fort of Fuller’s Earth did not come into oiir author’s hands, it is no wonder that he excludes it from its due place. The true Fuller’s- Earth of England is exa£Uy like the ftone marrow in all the above- mentioned properties • and in regard to the texture and colour, it comes neareft to the above-oei’cribed coarfc ftone marrow, E, SECT. 94 A SYSTEM OF •SECT. LXXXVL I. Loofe and friable boles, or thofe which fall to a powder in water. a. Flefh-coloured bole, from Kriftiersberg, at Nya Kopparberg, in Weftmanland* If, Red. ^ I. Fine, Bolus Armmus, 2, Coarfe, Bolus communis officinalis^ from the fand-ftone quarries at Orfa, in the province of Dalarne. 3. Hard, Terra rubric a. f. Green, Terre verte, 1. Fine, , from Italy. 2, Coarfe, from Stenftorp, in the province of Weftergottland. d, Bluifh grey, from Stollberget, in Koppar- bergflan, in Sweden. Is du6bile as long as it is in the rock, but even then repels the water ; it con- tains forty per cent, of iron ; which me- tal being melted out of it in a clofe vef- fel, the iron cryftallifes on its furface.. e. Grey. 1. Cryftallifed in a fpherical polygonal figure : from Swappawari, in Lap- lancL 2. Of an undetermined figure, from Gren- gerberget, in Weftmanland *, X At the time when the terr^^ or fealed earths, were in general ufe, the druggifts endeavoured to have them of all colours ; and for that reafon they took a]! forts of clays and fealed them ; not alone the natural ones, but likewife fuch as had been coloured by art, or had been mixed with magnejla alba cj^cinalist or other things, were afterwards vended for true boles ; and for this reafon the fpecies of bolee MINERALOGY, 95 SEC T. . LXXXVII. f 2. Indurated Bole, Bolus indurata. A, Of no vlfible particles, Par^kuUs impair ' pahiVthus. ' ■ This occurs very often in form of flate, or layers in the' earth, and then is made ufe of as an iron ore. However, it has ufually been.conlidered more in regard to its texture, than to its conllituent' parts, and has been called flate, in common wkli feveral other earths, which are found to have the fame texture. a. Reddifh brown, from England f . b, ' Grey, from Coalbrookdale, ^in Shrop- fliire, and hiofl: collieries of EnglancL • - SECT, LXXXVIIL . . B. Of fcaly 'particles, ParthuUs fpiamofis : The hornblende of the Swedes. ' boles is (rill thought to comprehend fo many v”arieties. Thus the Cologne clay (Seft. Ixxviii.) is by the druggifts ranked among the ’white leaied earths, and is called a nvhite hole: and this fame clay is by the Swedifh potters called Bngltsk jord, OF Englifh earth ; and by the tobacco-pipe makers, Ptp-lera. or pipe clay, &c. which Ihews how great a confufion there mud enfue, if the knowledge of thefe- bodies was not founded upon a furer ground than the colour, figure, and names invented by common mechanics. Since the mofl: part of thefe terne figillatee^ or fealed earths, are found to contain iron, I conclude, that the bole muft be a martial clay ; and, as . fach, it feems to be more fit for medical afes than other clays, if any dead earth rrtuft be u fed internally, when there is fuch an abundance of finer fub fiances. t Jn mod collieries between the feams of coal, as at Han- ram, in Kingfwood, near Briftol, Blanavon, ia Monmouth- Ihire, &c. D. C. Is 96 A -SYSTEM OF Is diflinguiflied from the martial glim- mer, or mica, (Sedl. xcv.) by the leaks being lefs Ihining, thicker, and rectan- gular. a. Black. This, when rubbed fine, gives a green powder. 1^. Greenilh'. Both thefe, particularly the black, are found every where in Sweden among the ' iron ores, and in the Grunften (Section cclxix ♦). ^ SECT. LXXXIX. D. Tripoli, Terra ^ripolitana./ Is known by its quality of rubbing hard . bodies, and making their furfaces to lliine, the particles of the tripoli being fo fine, as to leave even no fcratches on the furface. This effedl, which is called polifliing, may likewife be effected by other fine clays, when they have been burnt a little. The tripoli grows fomewhat harder in the fire, and is very refradlory : it is with difficulty diflblved by borax, and ftill with greater difficulty by the microcofmic fait : it becomes white when it is heated : when crude, it imbibes vWater, but is not diffnfible in it : it taftes like common chalk, and is rough or fandy between the teeth, although no fand can by any means be feparated from it. It has no quality common * The hornblende grows hard in the fire, which is the rea- fon why it is ranked here among the clays, though in all its other qualities it much refembles the cockle or fliirl. (Seftion Ixxii.) E. with MINERAI.OX^Y. 91 with any other kind of earth, by which it might be confidered as a variety of any other. That which is here defcribed, is of a yellow colour, and is fold by druggifts, who do not know where it is found E. Common Clay, or Brick Clay, Argilla com- munis \ vulgaris Plajlica, This kind may be diftinguilhed from the other clays, by the following qualities. 1. In the fire it acquires a red colour, more or lefs deep. 2. it melts pretty eafily into a greenifh 5. It contains a fmall quantity of iron and of the vitriolic acid, by which the pre- ceding effe(fi:s are produced. It is found, A- Diftufiblc in water. I. Pure. a. Red clay, from Kinnckulle, in the province of Weftergottland, 'h, Flefh coloured, or pale red, is* found on the plains between Wef- teras and Sala, in the province of Weftmanland. Grey, in the corn-fields in the pro- vince of Upland. * I have got of this kind of tripoli from Scotland, which has been lately difcovered there. But the rotten-ftone, fo called, is another fort found in England, viz. in Derbyfliire. It IS in common ufe here in England among workmen for all forts of finer grinding and polifhing, and is alfo fome- times ufed by lapidaries for cutting of itoi»cs, &c, D. C. SECT. XC. H i. Blue 95 A SYSTEM QF d. Blue, is very' common in Sw^en, in the provinces bordering upon the Baltic. e. White, is found in the woody parts of Sodermaniand, Dalarne, and of other provinces. It is often found in a flaty form, with fine fand between its flrata. It is not eafy to be baked in the fire^ : when it is burnt, it is of a pale red colour, and is more fufible than the pre- , ceding ones. /. Fermenting clay, Argilla intu^ mefcens. This is very like the preceding (^), as to the external appearance, and other qualities •, but when they are both found in the fame place, w'hich is not uncomm.on in feveral cf our mine countries, they feem to be different in regard to the fer- menting quality of this variety. This fermentation cannot be the effcdi: of the fand mixed with it, becaufe fand is found in them both : and befides, this kind fer- ments in the fame manner when it is mixed wnth gravel or flones ; and then it ferments later in the fpring than the other, fince by the ftones, perhaps, the frcfl is longer retained in it. 2 . Mixed with lime, fee Marie, Seftio^ SEC T\ M I N E R A I. O G Y. 99 SECT. XCI. B. Indurated. 1. Pure. Grey Haty. b. Red llat}% from Kinnekulle, in the pro- vince of Weflergottland. 2. Mixed with phlogiilon, and a great deal of the vitriolic acid. See ifkium Ores, Se6l. cxxiv. 3. Mixed with lime. See Lime, Seft: xxviii * It is probable, although it is not eafily demonftrable, that the common clay, and efpecially the blue, grey, and pale red, which are the foils of our plains and dales bordering upon lakes, has its origin from mud, and that the mud owes its exigence to vegetables 5 confequently that thefe varieties of clay are nothing elfe than a mould, ox humus at fome- what altered by means of water, and by length of time. The following circumilances contribute greatly to confirm this opinion, viz. that a great quantity of fea-plants rot every year in the lakes, and are changed into mud ; that very little, however, of this mud is feen upon the Ihores after the water is dried in fummer-tinje ; and that the clay begins where the mud ceafes. Conceruin'g the turf, or peat, it is toT® obferved, that this is not always produced from vegetables growing upon the very fame fpot where it is cur, but from fuch vegetables as have been thrown together from other places : for in what other mmner could hazle-nuts occur in the tujf- moors, in places where no hazle-trees grow, even at a dillance of many miles ? not to mention other inftances of the fame nature. Secondly, the turf, or peat, is cut in humid and low marfiies, which are not conilantly covered with water, as on the banks of lakes over-grown with grafs. If the origin of turf was any other than here mentioned, there ought to be turf found inllead of mud at the bottom of lakes where there is plenty of grafs. The quantity of iron, and of the vitriolic acid contained in this clay, would perhaps not be found greater than to an- fvver in proportion to the quantity of each of thefe fubftances, that enters into the compofition of vegetables, whilft growing, if there were any poliibiiity of m^-king the comparifon. Mean H 2 while A SYSTEM OF I op SECT. XCII. Observation on Clays in general. Thofe w}io have taken upon themfelves to examine the mineral bodies according to the; principles upon which this Syflem is built, will readily, I hope, excufe thofe faults which may have been committed in clafTing the clays ; be- caufe they muft well know, not only how diffi- cult it is to procure a number of different va- rieties of this order in their natural ftate, which have not been previoufly walked or prepared fov while I have In dry fumm^rs obferved on the fea-fhore, that a perfedt iron vitriol has been growing out of the mud, clays, Snd vegetables not yet rotted. Which has been thrown up there together.' When this opinion is once proved to be true, one may ven- ture to go farther, and endeavour by obfervations and ex- periments to prove likewife, that in the fubverhons or changes that the earth has more than once fufFered in every part of it, and in which water has contributed the mod to carry off the particles, and to change the ftrata, the clay has been gathered together, and lodged in beds together with other fubftances. Some of thofe ftrata have afterwards been indurated, by which means they are turned into the above llaty and limy clays ; and when they have been mixed with a great quantity of vegetables, and of the inflammable fubftance, they may in length of time be changed into pit-coal : but when they have been mixed w’ith lefs phlogiffon, and a great quantity of the vitriolic acid, they conftitute the alum ores, &c. Others of thofe llrata, v/hich are not yet hardened, prove dill, by their being let or divided with feme feparating veins Of fand, that they hai’e been formed in the fame manner as the fettlings or fediments of damping mills, and may perhaps, through ed ulceration in water, or through age, have loft thei^ fertility, fince they never are fo good to improve lands with, as thofe (Ira a which are ruppofed to be of s more recent for iiiilion, fach as t?. r. ■ • vfe, MINERALOGY. lOI as the fealed earths, &c. but alfo that it is no eafy matter diftincUy to defcribe fome little circumftances that occur to the eye, both in their natural ftate, and during the experiments. Be- fides, they cannot but remember, that the pro- greffional degrees both of hardnefs, and of the quantity of mixed heterogeneous bodies, efpe- cially iron, produce a number of imperceptible differences between them, in regard colour and cffe6ls ; fo that they cannot with due precifion be feparated and divided into their true genera, fpe- cies, and varieties, before fome more evident differences between them may, by repeated ex- periments, and perhaps by proceffes yet un- known, be difeovered. In examining the clays, one ought carefully to obferve the different de- grees of fire due to each kind : for without this knowledge they can never be employed to any real ufe in common life. Next to this, there is another point equally neceffary to be taken no- tice of, that is, the manner of working the clays, which is often different in different kinds, and which, not lefs than the different degrees of fire, is produdlive of different effects *, and therefore, if both thefe circumftances are not at the fame time exadtly deferibed, it is as wrong to affert with fome authors, that a refradlory clay does never crack in the fire, as it is deceiving to pretend that the fame clay does never imbibe the water, when it has been baked. Hence comes that great dif- ference in regard both to appearances and qua- lities, between a tobacco-pipe, which is very little baked, and a jar from Waldenburg, between a common brick and the other fort called a water clinkerr. H 3 The 102 A. S Y S T E M OF The ufe of clays, in common life, is more ex- tenfive than I have been able to inform myfelf of*, for which reafon I will only mention fome particulars relating to it. The porcCiane clay is employed to make vef- fels v/hich have that quality already mentioned (Sedl. Lxxviii.). I make no doubt but it enters into the compofition for making the fine porcelane ware at fome places *, at leall veflels are prepared.- from it of the fame goodnefs in every refpedl : and there are likev/ife fome varieties of this clay, which become quite white in the fire, a quality which is eileemed the moil valuable in the fine China ware. The indurated porcelane clay cannot be cafily heated without cracking, and is- therefore of no great fervice, if hardened in the fire alone, and in its natural date : though this circumflance is of lefs inconveniency, than when it has original cracks, or is mixed with heterogeneous fubftances. The fiieatites ^ is found purer and more folid in China than in any place in Europe. The natural faults of the European ones may, however, be altered by adding fome fat fubftance to it, when it is to be burnt •, by which means it becomes black or brown *, and this method is faid to be ufed at Bareith. The coarfe porcelane-like earth, which goes by the name of ^French clci)\ is ufed at the glafs-hoiifes, fteei furnaces, and other works of the fame nature, for the fame reafons it is the * The fteraires here meant is the fubftance of which the Chinefe jofles or figures commonly called rice ftgures are made ; it is, according to my method, of the dafs of Tales, and of the genus of Nephritics. D. C. ^ principal MINERALOGY. los firincipal ingredient in the making of crucibles, retorts, &c. The boles have almofl loft their value as me- dicines, and are employed to make bricks, pot- ters-ware, and pig-iron. The tripoli is an indifpenfible article for the policing of metals, and fome forts of ftones •, it is likewife on certain occafions preferred for making moulds to call metals in. The common clay is of the greateft benefit in agriculture, except however the white clay and the fermenting clay, both of Se6t. xc. which varieties we know not yet how to apply to any ufe. By virtue of its coherency, this clay retains humidity, on which perhaps its chief be- nefit to vegetables depends, its other effects being occafional, owing either to nature or art ; unlefs the clay has formerly been a mould or humus atcr^ in which cafe it is juft, that part of it fliould enter again into the formation of the new vegeta- bles. The clay ufed in the refining of fugar, wants no other quality than that it may not dry too foon. But that fpecies which is to be em- ployed in fulling, muft, if we were to judge a priori^ befides the finenefs of its particles, be of a dry nature, or fuch as attradts oils ; though this quality may perhaps not be found in all thofe clays which are now employed in that bufi- neft. SECT. -XCIIL The Fifth O r d e r The Micaceous Kind, The Glimnier» Daze, or Glift. H 4 Thefe 104 A SYSTEM OF Thefe are known by the following cha- radlers. 1. Their texture and compofition confift of thin flexible particles, divifible into plates or leaves, having a Ihining furface. 2. Thefe leaves, or fcales, expofed to the fire, lofe their fliexibilitVy and become brittle, and then feparate into thinner leaves : but in a quick and llrong fire^ they curl or crumple, which is a mark of fufion *, thougk it is very difficult to reduco them into a pure glafs by themfelves, or- without addition. 3. They melt pretty eafily with borax, the micrccofmic fait, and the alcaline fait •, and may, by means of the blow-pipe, be brought to a clear glafs, with the two former falts. The martial- mica is, how- ever, more fufible than the uncoloured ones. There is not yet difcovered any loofe earth of this kind, but it is always found indurated. SECT. XCIV. A. Colourlefs or pure mica; Daze, Glimmer, or Glifl: ; Mica alha^five pur a, 1. ’ Of large parallel plates. Mica conftans lamellis magnis parallelism Mufcovy glafs, Vitriim Mufcoviticum. Is tranfparent as glafs *, found in Siberiav and Elfdalen in the province of Wer- meland, 2. Of fmall plates, Mica fq^uamofa^ from Silf- verberget, at Runneby, in the province of Blekinge. 3- Of MINER A L O G Y. 105 3. Of particles like chaff, or chafiy mica, Particulis acerofis, 4. Of twifted plates, crumpled miea, Mica contorta^ tT ahum ojfidnale^ SECT. XCV. B. Coloured and martial glimmer. Mica cola- rata martialis. 1. Of large parallel plates. Mica lamellofa martialis, a. Brown femi-tranfparent, from Kola, ia Lapland. 2. Of fine and minute fcales. a. Brown. h. Deep green, from the mine of Salberg, in the province of Weftmanland. c. Light green, "P alcum officinale^ found in the ollaris, from Handol, in the pro- vince of Jemtland. d. Black, found in the granites, in the province of Upland. 3. Twifted or crumpled glimmer. Mica con- torta martialis, a. Light green, in the ollaris, from Handol. 4. Chaffy glimmer. Mica martialis 'particu- lis acerofis, a. Black, is found in the ftone called hornherg^ which occurs in moft of the Swediffi copper-mines j for inftance, thofe at Norberg, Flodberg, &c. Criftallifed glimmer. Mica drufica, I. Of concentrated and ered fcales, T>ru[a mkacea conjians fquamis concentratis per- pendicularihis caryophylloides. 2. Of A SYSTEM OF io6 2. Of hexagonal horizontal plates, Brufa 7nicacea conjtans fquamis hexago7iis hori^ zontalihus. This is found in the mines at Salberg, in the province of Weft- manland. SECT. XCVL Observation on the Mic^., orGLiMMERS. The ftones belonging to this order are by mod authors confidered as Apyri, which they really are in fome degrees of heat, and when they are mixed with certain bodies : but they may at the fame time with equal propriety be called Vitre- fcents, both per fe or by themlelves, becaufe they melt with that degree of fire in which neither quartz nor limeftone are in the lead altered •, and are dill more readily fufed, when mixed with a martial earth, either by nature or art : hence, if hornherg is naturally mixed with copper ores, as is frequently found in Sweden, it is no way de- trimental to the fmelling of them, as they com- ‘monly contain a fufficient quantity of fulphureous acid, which fcorifies the iron. But when the glim- mer is mixed with quartz, it may perhaps be impof- fible to melt it, becaufe it renders the quartz fo compacd, as to prevent it from cracking, which may be feen on the rock-done (Se6l. cclxii.) : The mica does the fame, when it is interfperfed in an apyrus clay •, and this is the reafon why the ollaris fo' ftrongly refids the fire. The mica has in fome degree the fame qualities as an argillaceous earth ; but, for want of fufficient experiments andobfervation^, we cannot yet afiert it to be a produft of clay. The MINERALOGY. 107 The martial mica in a calcining heat acquires a yellow fhining colour, which has induced many to examine it for gold •, but nothing can be -ob- tained from. it except iron, which may be dilTolved or extrafted by means of aqua regis : although a late German author has pretended that he pro- duced from the mica' an unknown femi-metal, which refembled iron luixed with zink. Never- thelefs he owns, that he has not examined this femi-metal-, and that for obtaining it he ufed a flux, compofed of feveral metals, fome of which probably united with the iron in the mica : where- fore it is probable we fnall never hear more cf it. Some of the m/icaceous kind feem fat and unc- tuous, and others harm and dry : it is not impro- bable that the former may contain a phlogifton, althouo;h this cannot be extracted from them in form of a pure olctm talci ; in other particulars, they are fo like one another, that there is no rea- fon for miaking them tvvo diftindl genera. The talc cubes^ as they are called, which have the figure of alum, and are fometirnes found in the copper-mine cf Fali)n, in the province of Dalarne, and which are very much valued by fome foiTilogifts, are, when broke, found to confifl of an iron ore, often miixed with a yellow or mar- chafitical copper ore, and only covered with a very thin coat of mica. The tranfparertt Mufcovy glafs is ufed for win- dows, and upon all occahons where panes of glafs are wanted. Perhaps it might alfo be advan- tageoufiy employed to cover houfes. The twilled or crumpled mica, which is found at Handol in Jemtland, is there manufadlured into kettles and other vefTeis, as alfo for hearths of chimnics > and the powder wdiich falls in the working io8 A SYSTEM OF working of this ftone may be mixed with th^ common fait, for the diftillation of the muriatic acid. SECT. XCVIL The Sixth Order. The Fluors Fluores Mineraks, Suet. Flujf- arter. Germ. Fluff-art en, Thefe are commonly called fluxing vitref- cent, or glafs fpars, becaufe moft part of then! have a fparry form and appearance : they are^ however, often met with in an indeterminate figure. Thefe are only known in an indurated ftate, and dittinguifh themfelves from the other earths, by the following characters. 1. They are fcarce harder than a calcareous • fpar, and confequently do not ftrike fire with the fteel. 2. They do not ferment with acids, neither* before nor after calcination, notwithftand- ing a phlogifton or an alcali had been added in the calcination. 3. They do not melt by themfelves, but only fplit to pieces when expofed to a ftrong fire f . But, 4. In mixtures with all other earths, they are very fufible, and efpecialiy when they are * I have adopted the name of FJuors, in Englifh, to this order. D. C. f There may, perhaps, be feme fluors that are pretty re- fraftory in the fire, fo as not to be melted : however, all thofc which I have tried, have melted pretty eafily by the blow-pipe ; but I have always taken great care in thefe ex- periments, that they might not fly away before they were heated through. E. ^ blended MINERALOGY. 1^9 blended with the calcareous earth, with which they melt to a corroding glafs, which diflblves the ftrongeft crucibles, unlefs fome quartz or apyrus clay is added thereto. 5. When heated fiowly, and by degrees, they give a phofphorefcent light : but as foon as they are made red-hot, they lofe this quality. The coloured ones, and efpe- ciallythe green, give the ftrongeft light, but none of them any longer than whilft they are well warm. 6. They melt and diftblve very eafily by the addition of borax, and next to that by the microcofmic fait, without ebullition* SECT. XCVIII, Indurjited Fluor, Fluor mineralis indti-^ ratus, 1. Solid, of an indeterminate figure, Fluor ^articulis impalpahilibus^ figura indetermu paid. Is of a dull texture, femi-tranfparent, and full of cracks in the rock. (i. White, found in Batgrufvan, at Yxfia in Nya Kopparberget in Weftmanland. SECT. XCIX. 2 . Sparry Fluor, Fluor Spatofus. It has nearly the figure of fpar, though,' on clofe obfervation, it is found not to be fo regular, nothing but the glofly furfaces of this ftone giving it the refemblance of ibar, " White, A SYSTEM OF a. White, found in Stripas at Norberg,, in the province of Weftmanland. - b. Blue, from Norrgrufve, at Weflerfiif- verbero;et in W'eftmanland. c. Violet, from Diupgrufvan, at the laft mentioned place, and alfo from Stripas and Fogerlidi and Giflof in the pro- vince of Skene. d. Deep green, from Stollberget in Stora Kopparbergflan. e. Pale green, from Kuppgrufven, at Gar- penberg in the province of Dalarne. /. Yellow, from Giflof in Skone. S E C T. C. 3. Cryfiiallifed Fluor, Fluor cryftallifatuSy when in fmgle criftals ; but Fluor Drufe, when many criftals are heaped to^ gether. I. Of an irregular figure. a. White. b. Blue, both from Norberget andNor- berg in Weftmanland. r. Red, from Heflekulla irommine, in the province of Nerike. Of a cubical figure. a. Yellow, and b. Violet, from Giflof in Skone, Bly- hall in the parifli of Barkaro in the province of Weftmanland. * ^ 3. Of a polygonal fpherical figure. a. White, from Bockbackeveggen in Falun copper-mine in Dalarne. h. Blue, from Bondgrufvan, at Norberg in Weftmanland. 4. Of MINERALOGY. Ill' 4, Of an o6loedral figure. a. Clear, colourlefs. This I have feen in the colleflion of the mine-malier Mr. Von Swab. SECT. CL Observation on the Fluor s. There are not yet any probable reafons given, why thefe ftones fhould be ranked amongft the palcareous or any other earths •, and if I am not quite miftaken in my judgment, they are fo much the more different from the calcareous earth, as they, when melted together with it, pro- duce an effed: which never can be afcribed to the alcaline earths ; not to mention, that there is by no method yet known any calcareous fubftance to be extraded from them, nor is there any pofli- biiity of decompounding them. That which caufes the phofphorefcent light vanifhes in the fire, it being impoffibie to colled it : in the prefent ignorance of the nature of this matter, it cannot therefore be afferted, whether it is one of the conftituent parts neceffary to the compofition of thefe flones, or if, in regard to its fmail quantity, it even deferves any attention. I take it to be a fubtle phlogifton, which being modified in various manners, gives rife to fuch various colours. At mineral works this kind of fcone is very ufe- ful in promoting the fiifion of the ores, and is therefore as much valued by the fmelters, as the borax is by the effayers : it has alfo from this quality got the name of faior^ or flux. The refemblance between the coloured duors, ;ind the compofidons made of glafs, lias perhaps contributed A SYSTEM OF contributed not only to the fiuors being reckoned of the fame value as the coloured quartz cryftals, by fuch ,colle6lors as only mind colour and figure *, but alfo to their obtaining a rank among the pre- cious ftones in the apothecaries and druggifts Ihops. They, however, may be permitted to enjoy that honour, -fince our modern phyficians do not make rnore ufe of them than g£ the pthers, SECT, CII. The Seventh Order, The Afbeftus Kind, AJhefiin£, Thefe are only yet difeovered in an indurated ftate : their charafters are as fol- low. j. When pure, they are very refra6lory in the fire. 2. In large pieces they are flexible. 3. They have dull or uneven furfaces. 4. In the fire they become more brittle. 5. They do not ftrike fire with the fbeel. 6. They are not attacked by acids, -7. They are eafily brought into fufion by borax. In this order are included both thofe varieties which by foflilogifls have been mentioned under the names of Amianti 4nd Afhejii^ and have often been con? founded together. SECT. MINERALOGY. ”3 SECT. cm. X. Afbeftus which is compounded of foft and thin membranes, Ajheftus memhranaceus ; Amiantus JVallerii, A. Of parallel membranes, Ajheftus mem- hranis conjlans parallelism Corium^ five Car 9 Montana^ Mountain-leather. 1. Pure. a, "V^^hite, from Salberg in Weftman- land. 2. Martial. a, Yellowifh brown, from Storrginnin- gen, at Dannemora, in the province of Upland. This melts pretty eafily in the fire to a black flag, or glafs. SECT. CIV. B. Of twiflcd foft membranes, AJheiius mem^ hranis co7tJlans contortis : Suber montanum^ Mountain cork. 1. Pure* a. White, from Salberg in Weftman- land. 2 . Martial. a, Yellowifh brown, from Dannemora.' , This has the fame quality in the fire as the martial mountain leather. SECT. CY. 2. Of fine and flexible fibres, Ajhejhis fihrofus : A^fbejius^ or Earth Flax, Afhejlus fVallerii. I ^ A. With ? XU . A ' SYSTEM' OF A, With parallel fibres, AJhefitis fihris confians parallelis : Byffus, 1. Pure and foft. iiih Light green j from Schelkowa Gora in , , Siberia. White, from Ulrica’s Ort in the mine -i of Salberg in Weflmanland : it is c. : there found together with mountain leather. 2. A little martial, and more brittle. "T a,‘ Greenifh, -.from Baftnas Grufva, at Ryddarhyttan in Weflmanland. There it forms the greatefl part of the vein out of which the copper ore is dug ; " V 'L ^ /gteat part of it is confequentl)r melted together-' with the ore, and is • r_ -/.then brought to a pure femi-tranfpa- rent martial flag of glafs, S E C T. CVI. Bf Of broken - and recombined fibres, A/^ -f jibris confians abruptis et conglutinatis^ ‘ I. Martial. a. Light green, from Baftnas Grufva at Riddarhyttan. SECT. evil. T It, has been already obferved under the title of Cockle,* or Shirl, (Sed. Ixxiv.) that the afbeftus is often confounded with it. Observation on the A sbestus Kind. - I am much 'inclined to believe that the Afbefti, as . well as the Mica^, are produced from an ar- , , gillaceous MINERALOGY. 1 15 gillaceous earth, both becaufe they become brittle in the fire, which is a proof that they harden, and becaufe they become more fufible by the ad- mixtion of a martial earth : but the method na- ture makes ufe of for this change is as unknown, as it might perhaps in other refpedls be necefiary, not to force the earths together, for fome flight reafon, within the compafs of a few orders. The Siberian Afbeflius, which may be confidered as the principal and chief of the fibrous kind, is, as it were, confumed by the flame of a blow- pipe, and does not leave any more certain mark of fufion i but it melts readily with borax to a clear and colourlefs glafs. The natural ftore of this kind is in proportion to its ceconomical ufe, both being very inconfl- derable. It is an old tradition, that in former ages they made cloaths of the fibrous afbefti, which is faid to be expreffed by the word Byjfus ; but it is not very probable, fince, if one may conclude from fome trifles now-a-days made of it, as bags, ribbons, and other things, fuch a drefs could neither have an agreeable appearance, nor be of any conveniency or advantage. It is more probable that the Scythians dreffed their dead bodies, which were to be burnt, in a cloth ma- nufactured of this fcone ; and this has perhaps oc- cafioned the above fable. Paper is likewife made from this ftone, only to fliew its fixity in the fire, and to procure fome efleem and value to this curious fubftance. It was reported fome years ago, that the French fearched for afbefli, in order to mix it with the tar for preferving houfes and fhips ; but the queftion is. It the afbefti can be of more fervice than pounded mica, or charcoal-duft employed to the fame puroofe? I 2 SECT. ii6 A SYSTEM OF SECT, CVUI. The Eighth Order. Zeolites. This is defcribed in its indurated (late, in the Tranfa( 5 lions of the Academy of Sciences at Stockholm, for the year 1756, and there me- thodifed as a ftone fui generis^ in regard to the following qualities. 1. It is a little harder than the fluors, and the calcareous kind : it receives however fcrat- ches from the fteei, but does not ftrike lire with it. 2. It melts ealily by itfelf in the fire, with a like ebullition as borax does, into a white frothy flag, which not without great dif- ficulty can be brought to a foiidity and traniparency. 3. It is eafier diffolved^ in the fire by the mineral alcali (fal fod^), than by the borax and microcolinic fait. 4. It does not ferment with this lafl: fait, as the lime does ; nor with the borax, as thofe of the gypfeous kind. 5. It diffolves vei*)" flowly, and without any effervefcence, in acids, as in oil of vitriol and fpirit of nitre. If concentrated oil of vitriol is poured on pounded zeolites, a heat arifes, and the powder unites into a mafs *. * Since the publication of this Effay, there has been dif- covered more varieties of the zeolites, particularly at Adelfors’s gold-mines in Smoland in Sweden, of which Tome forts do not melt by themfclves in the fire, but diifolve readily in the acid of nitiv, and are turned by it into a firm jelly. E. MINERALOGY. 1 17 6. In the veiy moment cf fufion k glve§, a phcfphorus or light. SECT. CIX. The zeolites is found in an indurated ftate. I. Solid, or of no vifible particles. Zeolites fo- lidus particulis impalpahilihus, A, Pure, Zeolites diirus. a. VyHiite, from Iceland. B. Mixed with filver and iron. a. Blue, Lapis lazuli^ from the Buckarian Calmucks. This, by experiments made with it, has dilcovered the following proper- ties. 1. It retains for a long time its blue in a calcining heat, but is at laft changed into a brown colour. 2. It melts eafily in the fire to a white frothy fxag *, which, when expofed to the flame of a blow-pipe, is greatly puffed up, but in a covered veffeJ, and with a ftronger heat, becomes clear and folid, with blue clouds in it. 2. It does not ferment with acids : but, ’ ' 4. Boiled in the oil of vitriol, it dif- folves flovdy, and lofes its blue co- lour. When a fixed alcali is added to this folution, a white earth is precipitated, which being feorified with borax, yields a filver regulus, that varies in big- nefs, according to the various fampies of the flone. ^ 3 5- By i8 A SYSTEM OF 5. By fcorification'with lead, there has been extracted two ounces of filver out of a hundred pounds v/eight of the ftone. 6. The prefence of filver is not difco- vered with the fame certainty by the fpirit of nitre as by the oil of vi- triol. 7. When the fpirit of fal ammoniac is added to any folution, made either of crude,' or of a perfectly calcined lapis lazuli, there is no blue colour produced j which proves that this co- lour is not owing to copper, as fome have pretended : and this is farther confirmed by the fixity of the blue colour in the fire (i, 2.), and by the colour of the flag or glafs (2.). . 8. It is a little harder than the other kinds of zeolites, but does not hov/- ever in hardnefs approach to the quartz, or to other ftones of the fili- ceous kind in general ; becaufe the pureft and fineft blue lapis lazuli may be rubbed with the fteel to a white powder, although it takes a polifh like marble. 9 The lapis lazuli^ when perfeffly cal- cined, is a little attrafled by the load- fione ; and Icorified with lead, the flag becomes of a greenifh colour, not fuch a colour as, copper gives, but fuch as is always produced by iron mixed with a calcareous fubftance * The lapis lazuli is feldom found pure, but is moil ge- nerally lull of veins of quartz, linieitcne, and marcafitc : how- eve.% MINERALOGY. 1 19 SECT. CX. 2, Sparry Zeolites, Zeolites fpatofus. This refembles a calcareous Ipar, though it is of a more irregular figure, and is more brittle. a. Liglit red, or orange-coloured, from Nya Krongrufv'an, one of the gold-mines at Adelfors, in the province of Smoland. ever, for thefe experiments none but the pureft pieces have been picked, fach as have been examined through a magni- fying- glafs, and been judged as free from heterogeneous fixtures as poffible. It is to be wilhed, that thofe who have a fufHcient quantity of this done would continue thefe expe- riments, in order to difcover what fubftance it is that makes this blue colour, which is fo conftant in the fire, fince it can- not depend either on copper or iron ; for though thofe metals, pii certain occafions, give a blue colour, yet they never pro- duce any other but what inftantiy vanlfhes in the Hre, and is deftroyed by means of an alcali. What is mentioned in fe- veral books about the preparation of the ultramarine from filvcr, can by no means be objedled here, fince in thofe pro- cekes the filver employed is mixed with copper, and other fubftances, v/hich contain a volatile alcali, whereby the blue colour is produced In regard to the above-mentioned qualities of this done, it capnot be clijfTed under any other kind of earth than this. t Mr. Margraf has finre, in his Cfiemlcal DiiTertatlons, printed in German in the year 1761, pubUHied fome experiments on the lapis lazuli j and in the chief agrees with our author, without, however, knowing any thing of thefe his experiments. Mr. Margraf alfo proves that there is no copper in this ftone ; and befides tells ue, that he has found both a cal- careous and a gypleous lubltancc in it, although he took care to pick out only the very pure bits for his exferiments However, I am led to imagine, that the calcareous fubftance is not eflen ial to the exiltence of the lapis lazuli, lince Mr. Cronftedt exprefly fays, that the ftone he tried did not ferment at all with acids. He farther mentions this remarkable circum- ftance, which makes it ftiU more evident that the lapis lazuli belongs to the zeolites, viz. that, when calcined and difl’olved in the acids ef vitriol, of common fait, and of n'tre, it turned all thofe acids into a jelly. However, he does not take any notice of its containing any filver, bec&ufe be did not profecute his experiments fo far on that point ; but fnme of his experiments, neverthelefs, fcern to indicate, as if all forts of lapis lazuH did net contain filvcr. E, I 4 SECT. 120 A SYSTEM OF SECT. CXI. 3 . Criftallifed Zeolites, Zeolites cryjlallifatus. Is more common than the two preceding kinds, and is found, ji. In groupes of criftals in form of balls, and with concentrical points, Cryftalli zeo- litis pyramidcdes concreti ad centrum ten- dentes. a. Yellow, from Swappawari, inTornea in Lapland. h. White, from Guflavfgriifvan, in the province of Jemtland B. Prifmatical and truncated criftals, CryftalU zeolitis diJHn5H figura prifmatica truncata. a. White, from Guftavfgrufvan in Jemt- land, C Capillary criftals, CryfiaUi zeolitis capiU lares. Are partly united in groupes, and partly feparate. In this latter accretion they re- femble the capillary, or feather filver ore (Sect, clxxiii.), and is, perhaps, fome- times called Flos fcrri^ at places where the nature of that kind of ftone is not yet fully known. Thefe criftals are found, a. White, from Guftavfgrufvan in Jemt- land. SECT. CXII. Observation on the Zeolites. This kind of ftone has nearly the fame qualities in the fire as the boles (Seel. Ixxxv) j fo that both of MINERALOGY. 121 of them, when more nicely examined, may per- haps be found to belong to the fame order, and perhaps be fome kind of earth, whofe properties have been long and perfectly known. The terra porcdlanea Luneburgica^ which Brock- man mentions, and Mr. Wallerius has ranked among the gypfa, may, perhaps, belong to this order : but I have not been able to procure a fpe- cimen of it, to compare it with the zeolites, which alfo is very fcarce, not being found in our country except in very fmall veins and cavities. To this fcarcity is owing, that it has not yet been tried in the lire together with other kinds, except with the fparry fluor. With that it does not fufe very readily, becaufe, when equal parts of them are melted together, an opaque flag or glafs is produced of the fame colour with the alcali of nitre, of a fibrous texture, and of an uneven fur- ^ face. The quality of fwelling in the fire, like the borax, is peculiar to the criftals, (Se(5l. cxi.) be- caufe the other varieties rife only into fome fmall blifters, which are of a white colour at their edges, and inftantly cover themfelves with a white glaflTy fkin, after which they become quite refrac- tory, SECT. CXIII. The Ninth Order, The Manganefe Kind, Magnefia*, The ftones belonging to this order, are in Swedifli called Brunfisn^ in I^atin Sydere^e^ or Magnefia nigr^^ in order to difliinguifh them from the Magnefia alba officinalis^ and in i^rcnch Mangonefe^ &c. They are by fome litho- 122 A SYSTEM OF lithographifts entirely omitted, and by others ranked among the iron ores ; but^ as I am con- vinced both by my own experience, and by that of others, that they contain no greater quantity of metal than fometimes two or three per cent, of iron, and fometimes a little tin, I think that the remaining part, which muft confequently be confidered as a kind of earth, deferves its parti- cular feparate place in a mineral fyilemj at leaft until a farther infight into its nature may be ob- tained : and to this opinion I have been per- fuaded by its following peculiar qualities : I. The manganefes confift of a fubftance, which ^ives a colour both to flags, and to the folu- tions of falts, or, which is the fame thing, both to dry and to liquid menftrua ; viz. a. Borax, which has diflTolved manganefe in the fire, becomes tranfparent, of a reddifli brown or jacinth colour. The microcofmic fait becomes tranfparent with it, of a crimfon colour, and moulders in the air. c. With the fixed alcali, in compofitions of glafs, it becomes violet *, but if a great quantity of manganefe is added, the glafs is in thick lum.ps, and looks black. d. Scorified with lead, the glafs gets a red- difh brown colour. e. The lixivium of a deflagrated manganefe is of a deep red colour. 2. It deflagrates with nitre, which is a proof that it contains fome phlogifton. 3. When reckoned to be light, it weighs as much as an iron ore of the fame tex- ture. 4. Being melted together with glafs compofi- tions, it ferimcnts during the folution : but . it MINERALOGY. 123 it ferments in a ftill greater degree, when it is melted with the microcofmic fait. 5. It does not excite any effervefcence with the fpirit of nitre : aqua regia, however, extrads the colour out of the black, and dilTolves likewife a great deal of it, which, by means of an alcali, is precipitated to a white pov/der. 6. Such colours as are communicated to glafles by manganefe, are eafily deftroyed by the calx of arfenic or tin : they alfo vanifh of themfelves in the fire. 7. It is commonly of a loofe texture, fo as to colour the fingers like foot, although it is of a metallic appearance when broke. SECT. CXIV. Manganefe is found, A. Loofe and friable, Magnefia friabilh terrU formis, a. Black, feems to be weathered or decayed particles of the indurated kind, from Eng- land. SECT. CXV. B. Indurated, Magnefia indurata. I. Pure, in form of balls, w^hofe texture confifls of concentric fibresv Magnefia pura fphcmca radiis concentratis, a. White, Magnefia alba ftriSle fic di^a^ is very fcarce. I have feen a fpecimen of this kind in a colle6lion from an unknown place in Norway ; and by examining a piece of it, I found that it differed from tlie 124.' A SYSTEM OF the common manganefe, by giving to the borax a deep red colour in the fire : this fort acquires a reddifh brown co- lour when it is calcined. Red manganefe is faid to be found in • Piedmont. This I have never feen ; but I have been told by an ingenious gentle- man, ^that this variety is free from iron, and gives to glafs rather a red than a vio- let colour. SECT. CXVI. 2. Mixed with a fmall quantity of iron, Magnefia parum martialis. a. Black manganefe, with a metallic brlght- nefs. This is the moft common kind, and is employed at the glafs-houfes, and by the potters. It is found, 1 . Solid, of a flaggy texture, Magnefia textura vitrea^ from Skidberget, in the parifh of Lekfand, in the province of Dalarne. 2. Steel grained, alfo from Skidberget. 3. Radiated, Radiata^ ftill from Skid- berget, and Tiveden, in the province of Oflergottland. 4. Criftallife.d. a. In form of coherent hemifpheres, Hemifpheriis continuiSy from Skid- - ~ berget in Lekfand. SECT. CXVII. 3. Blended with a fmall quantity of iron and tin, Magnefia parva cum portione mar^ tis MINERALOGY. 125 tis €t jovis mixta : Spuma Lupl^ or IVol- fram I . With coarfe fibres. a. Of an iron colour, from Altenberg in Saxony. This gives to the glafs compofitions, and alfo to borax and the microcofmic fait, an opaque whitifh yellow colour, which at laft vanifhes. SECT. CXVIII. Observations on the Manganese. Thougl> it may feem difficult to many, to diftin- guifh the kinds of manganefe by their appearance, - or external marks ^ yet it is extremely eafy to know them by experiments made in the fire, if attention is had to the above-mientioned pheno- mena (Sedl. cxiii.). From hence it is not difficult to comprehend why manganefe has hitherto been either omitted, or erroneoufly ranked in fyffcems, viz. becaufe it has, like many other mineral bodies, been examined only by fight, wjiile the more troublefomie method of examining it in the fire, has been overlooked. Some might perhaps imagine the manganefe to be the remiainder of fome metal, which cannot be reduced again into its metallic flate *, but it ought to be remembered, that no metal can, by any means yet known, be brought to an abfolutely irreducible earth or calx, unlefs perhaps by the burning-glafs, and therefore there is no reafon to fufped that nature gives fuch a produflion. Ig- * Wolfram is a name which is alfo fometimes given to mock lead, ard fometimes to ccckle, or Ihirl, as alfo to other minerals ; however, it is chieriy given to this fpecies of man- ganefe, when it occurs in the tin-mines, E. and D. C. norance 126 A SYSTEM OF norance and idlenefs have invented certain terms or exprefTions, to avoid giving an account of thofe ores or mineralifations, which are not eafy enough to be decompounded *, for inftance, wild^ rapa- cious^ arfenical^ volatile^ &c. and fome iron ores in particular have been thus called ; by which means it has happened, that oeconomical reflec- tions have often been added to natural and phi- lofophical defcriptions : and thus others are de- terred from examining many bodies, of which we have got, and ftill retain falfe notions by this way of proceeding. The manganefe has by fyflematifls been com- monly ranked among fuch iron ores'; but the artificers who make ufe of it in the manufadlure of glafs do not know it ; nor can they by any means be perfuaded to ufe any of the pretended bodies a-kin to it, inftead of the manganefe itfelf, fince experience prevails more with them than fuppofitions. The confumption of the manganefe is but fmall, and therefore it is not a very profit- able article. SECT. CXIX. The SECOND CLAS S.. The SALTS, Salia. By this name thofe mineral bodies are called, which can be difiblved in w^ater, and give it a tafle •, and which have the power, at leaf!: when they are mixed with one another, to form new bodies of a folid and angular fliape, when the water in which they are diflblved is diminifhed to a lefs quantity than is required to keep them mineralogy. 127 them in folution; which quality is called CridaL Illation SECT. CXX. In regard to the known principal circumdances or qualities of the mineral lalts, they are divided into 1. Acid Salts, or Mineral Acids, Salia Adda, 2. Alcaline Salts, or Mineral Alcalis, Salia Alcalina. The First Order. Acid Salts, Salia Adda. The charadlers of thefe falts are, that they, 1. ITave a four tade. 2. Are corrofive; that is to fay, have a power of dilTolving a great number of bodies. * No other falts ought to be conlidered and ranked in a mineral fyflem, but thofe which are. found natural in the earth (Sed. i.) ; and for this reafon a great number of falts will be in vain looked for here, viz. all fuch as are either na- tural or prepared by art in die other two kingdoms of nature, and from fubilances belonging to them. Amongft thefe is nitre itfelf, and its acid, and the vegetable acid, fince thefe are never had from true mineral bodies ; nor is it demonftrated, that they have their origin from the true mineral vitriolic and muriatic acids. There have, indeed, been many attempts made to reduce moll of them to a vitriolic acid, which by many is called the univerfal acid: but experiments will not agree with it ; at leak nobody has yet been able, by uniting a phlogiflon with another acid than the true vitriolic, to produce any fubltance in every particular refembling the true ■brimftone, or fulphur. For this reafon I cannot yet give my alfent to Dofior Fietfeh’s opinion, who endeavours to prove, that the a^id of nitre is derived from the vitriolic acid, that is, before his theory is coniirmed by experience in the large way, and the analyfis has been more plainly laid epen ; but I think the I2S ASYSTEMOF 3. They have a ftrong attraflton to the’ alcaline falts and earths, whence they al- ways unite with them with an efFervef- cence, and fometimes with a ftrong heat : by this mixture bodies are produced, which are employed in common life under the names of vitriols^ neutral falts^ gyp- fim^ &c. 4. They change moft of the expreffed blue juices of vegetables into red. the queftlon remains ftill andecided, if the nitrous, vegetable, and urinous acids are primitive fubftances ? or if they owe their origin to one and the fame principle ? and, if this laft be the cafe, of what nature this principle is ^ But hcnvfoever this may prove, the confideration of thefe acids feems more properly to belong to another fcience. The fame may be laid of the doftrine which holds, that the nitre is produced ‘from the principles of the fea-falt, by a certain peculiar mo- dification^ The above-mentioned two mineral acids, whofe qualities we know nothing of, until they have been by art extrafted from the vitriols, and the fea-falt, are indeed never found pure in nature, becaufe as foon as they, on any occafion, are, either by a natural or artificial heat, feparated from any fub- Hance, they inftantly attack and unite with another. Ne- verthelefs, as they may, and perhaps fometimes really do exift in form of vapours, which efcape our light ; and that the theory of the falts, and the faline ores, is founded upon qualities already difcovered in thefe acids^; I have thought it neceffary to defcribe them fuch as they are, when mixed with pure water alone ; and this the rather, lince the water is their moft common vehicle, in the ezercife of their effeds in the mineral kingdom. It has been obferved before (Sefl. xl.), that the qualities of arfenic in form of a calx may agree with the definition of the falts, and at the fame time be reckoned among the femi* metals, which cannot be any otherwife explained, than that the arfenic confidered in a certain refpedl and form, is a fait; and when confidered in other circumftances, a metal. This is the cafe with feveral other bodies of the mineral kingdom. 5. They 12 ^ MINERALOGY. 5. They feparate the alcali from the fat, when they have been united in foap ^ which effed is called to curdle^ or coagulate. 6, They are volatile and fubtile, fo as never to be obfervable by the naked eye, unlefs they are mixed with heterogeneous bodies ; and therefore the figure of the pure mi- neral acids cannot be defined but by guefs. S E C T. CXXI. 'A, The vitriolic acid, Acidum vitrioli aluminis et fulphuris. I. The pure vitriolic acidj Acidum vitrioli purum. Is, in abflraft, confidered as pdfTible to occur in nature : its qualities, when mixed with water, in which it is caught by diflil- lation, are as follows. 1. When mixed with the lead pofiible quantity of water, it is of an unctuous appearance, and is for that reafon im- properly called oil of vitriol. 2. It has in that date a corifiderable hea- vinefs, viz. in comparifon to water, as 1700 to 1000. 3. It didblves filver, tin, the regulus of antimony, and quickfilver \ but, 4. When mixed with more water, it dif- folves zinc, iron, and copper. 5. It didblves likewife the calcareous earth, and precipitates with it in form of a gyp- fum, of which a part fhoots into gyp- feousDrufen, Selenites et cryjtalli gypjei, 6. It unites with the earth of quartz, when it has been previoudy didbived in the K Ugiior 130 ASYSTEMOF liq^uor filicum \ and with a pure argilla- ceous earth, diflblving it without any' fermentation : with both thefe earths it makes alum. 7. It has a ftronger attra< 5 lion to the in- flammable fubftance, than to the alcaline fait, and forms with it a body, which properly may be called the mineral fulphur, 8. When it is perfedly united with phlo-^ gillie fubllances belonging to the ve- getable kingdom, and the water has been perfe6Uy feparated, this mixture catches flame in the open air, and is confumed, as rnay be feen by the powder called Pulvis pyrophorus, 9. It attradls water flrongly,. and the aqueous vapours out of the air : and if a great quantity of water is added to it at once, a llrong heat arifes. 10. It unites readily and eafily with the alcalis, whereby, according to their na- ture, different compounds are produced,, which have obtained the names of 'Par- tarns vitriolatiis^ fal mirahile^ and fal am- moniacum fixum. SECT. CXXIL . The vitriolic acid mixed or- faturated, jicidum vitrioU aliis corporibus faturatum. y/. With metals, Metallis faturatum. Vitri^ ola^ Vitriols. a. Simple vitriols, Vitriola ftmplicia, I . Martial vitriol, green vitriol or cop- peras, Vitriolum martis ftmplex. This MINERALOGY; I3^ This is the common green vitriol, which naturally is found dilTolved in water, and is produced in abun- dance by decayed or calcined mar- cafitesi 2. Copper vitriol, blue vitriol, Vi trio- lum Veneris feu Cypricum. This is of a deep blue colour^ and is found in all Ziment waters, as they are called ; for inftance, at Neufohl in Hungary, in St. Johan’s mine at Fahlun in the province of Dalarne, at Nya Kopparberget iii Weftmanland, and the copper- mines at Wicklow in Ireland, &c. It is however feldom perfectly free from an admixture of iron and zink. 3. Zink vitriol, Vitriolum zinci. Is white and clear as alum, and is found at the Rammelfberg in the Hartz, as alfo in the rubbifh at Stollgrufvan in Weftmanland, where the mock lead has decayed either fpontaneouQy, or after having been burnt. SECT. CXXIII. h. Compound vitriols; Vitriola com* poftta. 1. Vitriol of iron and copper, Vitrio- lum ferrtm et cuprum continens. Is of abluilh green colour. 2. Vitriol of iron, zinc, and copper, Vitriolum ferrum zincum et cuprum continens. K 2 This A SYSTEM OF 532 This verges more to the blue than to the green colour. It is made at Fahlun in Dalarne, from the water which is pumped out of the copper- mines : in this water large criftais of vitriol are often ready formed. If this vitriol is dipped in water, and afterwards rubbed on clean iron, the copper does not precipitate from it. 3. Vitriol of zinc and iron, Vitriolum zinco-ferreum. This is the green vitriol from Goflar in the Hartz. 4. Vitriol of zinc and copper, Vitric- lum cupr&o zinceum. This is the blue vitriol from Goflar. 5. Vitriol of nickel and iron, Vitrio^ lum ferrum et niccolum continens. Is of a deep green colour, and is contained in the ochre or decayed parts of the Nickell, at the Cobalt- mines at Los, in the province of Helfingland*. ^ Moft part of the vitriols ov/e their formation to art : be- caufe when fuch ores as contain fulphur, are dug out of the mines by means of fire, the phlogifton of the fulphur is by the heat expelled, leaving the acid behind, which, being let loofe or freed, is thereby enabled to attradl and unite with watry vapours, difiblving at the fame time the metals ; and it is thus the vitriols are formed. Every fort of ore does not commonly decay or weather in a natural manner, without being promoted by art ; and this decaying or weathering is moftly performed in the open air^; for which reafon no very great quantity of vitriol can be expeded in that way ; for when any ore thus weathers or decays, the diffolved particles are by degrees carried off by the rain, and are at lafl found in a diffolved date in certain fprlngs or mineral waters. All fuch ores may therefore be called true vitriol ores, as contain iron, copper, zinc, and nickel mineralifed with fulphur. The acid in the vitriols, however, is not dulcified by the metals, as it is by the alcali in the true neutral falls. SECT. MINERALOGY. SECT. CXXIV. B. The acid of vitriol mixed or faturated v/ith earths, Acidtim vitrioli terris mioctum feu fa- turatum, 1. With a calcareous earth. Gypfum. See Se6l. xiii. 2. With an argillaceous earth. The Alum kind. Alumina. a. With a fmall quantity of clay, Acidum vitrioli argilld faturatum. Native or plumofe alum, Alumen nativumfive plu- mofum. Is found on decayed alum ores in very fmall quantities •, and therefore through ignorance the alabaftrites and felenites, both of which are found among mofl of the alum dates, are often fubftituted in its (lead *, as is alfo fometimes' the af- bellus, notwithftanding the great dif- ference there is between the alum and thefe, both in regard to their ufes and effefls *. b. With a greater quantity of pure clay, Argilla pura acido vitrioli imhuta. White alum ore, Minera aluminis alba. * The gypfa and afbefti, but more efpecially the latter, have been ufed through ignorance, in moft countries, for plumofe native alum ; and the fort fold formerly in the fhops for k was a greenifh white kind, from Germany, very rigid, but extremely brittle, and breaking into fpicula or prickles. Selenites was never fubftituted for alum ; and the reafon the afbefti and fibrofe gypfa were fubftituted for it, was only on account of the fimilarity of ftrudure, not, as our author fays, on account of their being found together. See my Lectures. D. C. K3 I. Indu- A SYSTEM OF j. Indurated pale red alum ore, Schijlus aluminis ‘Romanus. Is employed at Eumini, not far from Civita Vecchia. in Italy, to make the pale red alum called Roach Alum. This is, of all alum ores, the moft free from iron ; and the reddilh earth which can be precipitated from it, does not fhew the leafl 'marks of any metallic fubftance. f. 'With a very large quantity of martial clay, which likewife contains an inflam- mable fubftance, Argilla martialis et - J>hlogiJiica acido vitrioli imbuta. Commori alum'ore. Is commonly indurated and flaty, and is therefore generally called Alum Slate^ Schijlus akiminofus ater et brunefcens. It is found, I. Of parallel plates, with a dull fur- face, Schijlus lamellofus regularise frorn Andrarum in the province of Skone, Hunneberg and Billingen in the pro- vince of Weftergottland, Rodoen in the province of Jemtland, and the ifland of Oeland, &c.^ .2. Undulated and wedge-like, with a fhining furface, Schiflus aluminofus un- dulatiis et cuneiformis fijfuris fplenden- ttbns, I'his at the firft fight refembles pit coal •, it is found in great abundance in the parifti of Nas in Jemtland J*. f In Engiard, the great alum works at Whitby, in York- ihiiT, are of this kind. JD. C, f The purity above-mentioned i.) of the earth of the Roman or roach alum, is meant with the lame reilrittiori as MINERALOGY. ^35 SECT. CXXV, C. Vitriolic acid united with phloglfton, Acidum vitrioli phlogijlo combinatum. The fulphur kind, Sulphura. See Se(fl:. cli. SECT. CXXVI. D, Vitriolic acid faturated with alcaline fait, Acidum vitrioli alcali miner ali fat ur at um. as in general is underdood by that expreflion, viz. that the heterogeneous particles are not very obvious, nor of any great confequence. The phlogifton which is contained in the black alum ilates, may perhaps .during the calcination difpofe the iron to be eafier diiToIved ; and it may alfo occalion the black colour in fome of them, that even contain but very little of iron, as inoft likely in part of thofe from Nas (c. 2.). It is not ealily determined, whether the earth in the alum ilates is argillaceous or quartzofe, or vfhether it is a black in- durated humus, or mould, becaufe all thofe three earths, when dilTolved in the vitriolic acid, produce alum. The Co- logne pipe-clay is a plain proof of the firft ; the quartzofe earth, in Ihuor Jilicujn, of the fecond ; and aluminous foffil- woods are adually employed for making alum in Bohemia and Hefle. Thefe earths may, or may not, contain iron ; however, they prevent, in the former cafe, the phlogifton, together with the vitriolic acid, from mineralizing all the iron, and making a marcafite of it, excepting here and there, in fome inlignificant quantity, as in cracks, or when it meets with fome heterogeneous bodies, as fhells, infefts, &c. in the faid earths. There is a remarkable progrejlion from the black alum flates to the pit-coal, in proportion as the quan- tity of the phlogiflon encreafes, and the quantity of the -earth decreafes (Seft. clix.). It is this phlogiflon which makes this alum flate capable of burning by itfelf, when it is once lighted ; wherein it differs from the alum ores of Lumini, which, in order to be brought to moulder, require the being expofed to the heat of the fun, and lo he fprinkled w’ith water: the former has alfo within itfdf fufhcient matter to fponta- neoufly flame upon certain occauons, according to what the ’ 135 A SYSTEM OF a. With the alcali of the common fait, nr fea-falt, Alcali miner alt faturatum : Sal mi- nabile Glauheri, This is a neutral fait, prepared by na- ture, as well as by art, containing more or lefs of iron, or of a calcareous earth, horn \vhich arifes alfo fome difference in its effecls, when internally^fed. It (hoots eafiiy into prifmatical criftals, which be- come larger in proportion to the quantity of water evaporated before the criftalli- fation. When laid on a piece of burning charcoal, or elfe burnt with a phlogifton, the vitriolic acid difcovers itlelf by the fmell like to the hepar fulphuris. It is found in a diffolved ftate in fprings < and wells, and in a dry form on walls, m fuch places where aphronitrum has efflo- refced through them, and the vitriolic acid has happened to be prefent; for inftance, where marcafites are roafted in the open air. This fait is often confounded with the aphronitrum, or a pure mineral alcali ; and a learned difpute once arofe, which of thde halts ought with the greateft propriety to be called natron, Baurach veterum^ fat mirahile^ or Epfom fait ; vdiereas it might ' eafily have been decided by chemical ex* fflebrated cjfpertmcnts of Lemery, and others, demondrate, and from which caufe many volcanos and earthquakes may perhaps be c educed. The pulvis pyrophorus is alfo made of alum, intiiTiritfly united with a phlogiftic fubftance ; in the preparing of which, they ought carefully to avoid that any iron enters the mixture, bccaufe the acid has too ftrong an attraftion to the iron, and cannot unite with the phlo- gidon alone, wh:ch_, however, is quite neceffary in this ope- ration. perimentSj MINERALOGY. 137 periments, if their qualities had been re- garded, in preference to their figures, or their native places. This may be called Englifli or Epfom fait, when it has naturally as equal a co- pious portion of the calcareous earth as of the artificial one *, but I have, in regard to its efieds, for which it has been moil valued by Glauber, ranked all the lefs confiderable varieties of this neutral fait, when natural, under the name of fal mi- rabile, SECT. CXXVII. B, Acid of common or fea-falt, Acidum falis communis. This acid, confidered in that Hate in which it can be had, viz. in mixture with water, has the following qualities. 1. It does not alter the fluidity of water, nor confiderably augment its heavinefs, as the vitriolic acid does. 2. It is fomewhat lefs corrofive and four than the faid vitriolic acid. 3. It ftrongly attrads the alcaline falts; but, however, is forced to quit them to the vi- triolic acid, when that is added. 4. It diffolves the calcareous earth, and makes with it a fubftance, called fal ammoniacvmi fixum. 5. When expofed to the fire, combined with a phlogifton, it burqs with a yellowifl^ green flame. 6. When highly concentrated and pure, as when it is diftilled from common fait mixed With pipe clay, it diffolves tin and lead : but A SYSTEM OF 13S but kfs pure, it diflblves copper, iron,' ^ink, and the regulus of antimony : the copper is however more eafily difiblved, when it is in form of a calx, as the calces of quLckfilver and cobalt likewife are. 7 . It unites with filver difiblved in aqua* fortis, and with lead difiblved in aqua^ regia, falling with them to the bottom, in form of a white fpongy mafs. This preci- pitation, expofed to the fire, ftill retains the acid, and ntelts with it into a glafify fubftance, which does not dififolve in water. 8 . It is apt to attra(51: the humidity of the air, and to promote the decaying of thofe dry fubftances, with which it has been united, 9 . Mixed with the fpirit of nitre, it makes the fo called aqua-regia, which is the true liquid menftruum for gold. This acid feems alfo, on certain occa- lions, to have got loofe from thofe fub- ftances, with which it has been originally united in the earth ; the Jal ammoniacum paturale at Solfatara in Italy, and the horn ^ filver ore (clxxvii.) appear to be proofs of this, as they feem to be the produds of time, SECT. CXXVIII. I. Mixed or fatiated acid of fea-falt, Acidum falis heterogeneis faturatum, A, With earths, T’ err is faturatum, ^ I. With a calcareous earth, ^errd ealcared faturatum : Sal ammoniacum fimm* This fomewhat decays or attrads the humidity of the air : it is found in abundance mineralogy. 139 abundance in the fea-water. See the calcareous kind, Seft. xxi. SECT. CXXIX. S. With alcaline falts, Salibus alcalinis ratum. I. With the fixed minerai alcali, or fea alcali, common fait, or fea-falt, Sal commune, - This Ihoots into cubical criftals during the very evaporation, it crackles in the . fire, and attraifls the humidity of the air, a. Rock fait, fofiil fait, Sal montanum. Occurs in form of folid ftrata in the earth. 1. Withfcaly and irregular particles," Sal montanum ^articulis indetermu fiatis. a. Grey, and h. White. Thefe are the moft'com- mon, but the following are fcarcer. c. Red, d. Blue, and €. Yellow, from Cracow in Po- land, England, Salzberg, and Tirol. 2. Criftallifed rock fait, Sal montanum cryftallifatum, Sal gemmae, a, Tranfparent, from Cr^cpw in Poland, &c. SECT. CXXX. ’ b. Sea Salt, Sal mariniim. Is produced from fea-water, or from the water of fait lakes, by evaporation in the fun, or by boiling. The \40 A SYSTEM OF ^ ’ The feas contain this fait, though more or lefs in different parts. In Si- beria and Tartary there are lakes that contain great quantities of fait. SECT. CXXXI. c. Spring fait, Sal fontanum. Is produced by boiling the water of , the fountains near Halle in Germany, and other places. ' Near the city of I^idko- in the province of Weftergottland, and in the province of Dal, falt-fprings are found, but they contain very little fait : and fuch weak water is called folen by the Swedes SECT, CXXXII. 2 . Saturated with a volatile alcali, Actdum falls communis alcali volatili faturatum. Native fal ammoniac, Sal ammoniacum naturale. This is of a yellowifli colour, and is fub- Jimed from the flaming fents or crevices at the Solfatara near Naples. See Se£t. cxli. * This divifion of the natural common falts is generally adopted, and not without reafon, lince the tafte of all differs a little from one another, which depends on the lefs or greater mixture with heterogeneous fubftances. For out of the pureft of thefe falts, a little of an earthy fubllance may Hill be precipitated, which dilTolves in acids, and feems to be of a calcareous nature. The naturalifts have troubled them- felves a great deal to find out, how common fait is produced in the earth, and from whence the great ftore of it in the ocean is Supplied : but they have propofed nothing but conje£lure% without any wife illudrating the main queHion. SECT, SECT. CXXXIII. C. United With phloglfton, Acidum falls conu munis fhlogtfto faturatum. Amber, Sued- mm. See Sed. cxlvL * , • - 4 . . SECT. CXXXIV. jD. United with metals, Acldum falls me- tallls faturatiim. i. With filver, Acldum falls 'communis ar- gento faturatum. Mlnera argentl cornea^ Horn filvef ore. The Hornertz of the Germans. See Sed. cixxvii. SECT. CXXXW The Secono Order; Alcaline Mineral Saks, Alcalla Mlnerallal Thefe are known by their adion on the above-mentioned acids, when they are joined together, whereby a. fermentation arifes, and a precipitation enfues of llich bodies as either of them had before kept in diifoiution ^ * The dry volatile fait of amber, which difeovers itfelf to poffefs the qualities of an acid, is, according to Mr. Bourde- liri’s experiments, communicated to the French Academy, compounded of the acid of common fait, and a phlogifton, both which fubftances are faid likewife to make out the con- flicuent parts of the yellow amber itfelf, though in different proportion than in the fait : for this reafon, and until this opinion is refuted by other experiments, the fait of amber cannot be confidered as a mineral fait, that is different from the others, and confequently exigent by itfelf ; nor can the vi- triolic acid be faid to coagulate the yellow amber. uniting 142 A SYSTEM dP uniting at the fame time together, by which new compofitions are made, that are called neutral Xalts, or falia neutra. Thefe alealine falts are, SECT. CXXXVL i. Fixed in .the fire, Alcalia miner aiia fixd. A, Alcali of the fea, or common fait, Alcall falis communis^ proprie miner ale di5lum. I. Pure, Purum. This has nearly the fame qualities with the lixivious fait, which is pre- pared from the alhes of burnt vegeta- bles ; it is the fame with the fal fod^y or kelp, becaufe the kelp is nothing elfe than the afhes remaining after the burning of certain herbs that abound in common fait •, but w^hich common fait, during the burning of thofe vegetables,^ has quitted its acid; This, 1. Ferments with acids, and unites with them. 2. Turns the fyrup of violets to a green colour. 3. Precipitates fublimate mercury in an orange-coloured powder. '4. Unites with fat fubftances to make foap. 5. DilTolves the filiceous earth in th^ fire, and makes glafs with it,’ &c. It diftinguiflies itfelf from the fait of the pot-aflies, by the following pro- perties : that, 6. It ftioots eafily into prifmatical crif- tals, that 7. Fall MINERALOGY. i43f 7. Fall to powder in the air, which is cffedted by nothing elfe, than that they eauly lofe their humidity. 2 . Mixed with the vitriolic acid, it makes the fal mirabik, 9. It melts eafier, and is fitter for pro- ducing the fal commune regeneratumy nitrum cuhicum^ &c. Perhaps it is alfo more conveniently applied in the preparation of feveral medicines. 10. It is fomewhat volatile in the fire^. SECT. CXXXVII. 2. Mixed with afmall quantity of the cal- careous earth, Alcali falls communis terr^e calcar parvd portione comhinatum^ phromtrum, ^ This fait is not met with pure in Europe, but it Is faid go be found in both the Indies, not only in great quantity, but likewife of a tolerable purity : it is there collcfted in form of an efhorefcence in theextenfive deferts, a profi.able trade being carried on in it for the making of foap and glafs : and there- fore it is very probable, that the undents meant this fait by their natron^ or Faurach. The calcareous earth is fufpedled either to contain this fait in its own compolition, or elfe to be able to generate it from itfelf : but this hypothefis cannot be demonftrated. It is more probable, that the heat of the funt Under the equator, and in the countries on both lides of it, evaporates the humidity, and afterwards expels the acid out of fome common fait, which either is natural quire how far fire, phlogifton, and electricity, have an affinity with, or dependance on, one another; but as they yet want that light in this matter which they with to have, I hope to be excufed for not mentioning any theories on the fubject. This clafs is of great ufe in medicine; for in- fiance, the ambergrife, the fait of the yellow am- ber, the rock-oil, the afphaltum, and the fulphur. The rock-oil and fulphur are ufed in fireworks, the afphaltum by the watchmakers, and the yellow amber is ufed by the varnifhers and painters SECT. CLXIIL The FOURTH CLASS, METALS, METJLLJ, Are thofe mineral bodies which, with refpecfl to their volume, are the heavieft of all hitherto- known bodies *, they are not only mialleable, but they may alfo be decompounded, and in a melt- ing heat be brought again to their former ftate, * The coals, however, are of the greateil: confeqnence for their cEConomical ufe; and happy therefore are thofe countries which have a fufhcient quantity of them, fince they may be employed as fuel to almoit every purpofe, which is plainly proved in England. E. M 2 A SYSTEM OF i6.i by the addition of the phlogifton they had loft ia their dccompofidon SECT. CLXIV. The First Order, Metals, Met did, r. Gold, Aurum,^ Sol Chymicorum. This is by mankind efteemed as the prin- cipal and firft among the metals ; and that partly for its fcarcity, but chiefly for its fol- lowing qualities. 1. It is of a yellow fliining colour. 2. It is the heavieft of all known bodies,- its fpecific gravity to water being as to lOOO. 3. It is the mofl: tough and ducflile of all metals j becaufe one grain of it may be flretched out fo as to cover a filver wire of * Thofe metals which in a calcining heat lofe their phlo- gifion, and confequently with that the former coherency of their particles, are called as tin, lead, copper, and iron, and all the femi-metals (of which more hereafter) : not- wlthftandmg which they may be malleable. But thofe which cannot be deftroyed in the fire alone are called perfe<^y2.s gold, filver, and platina del pinto. Neverthelefs, the metals have commonly been confidered more with regard to their mallea- bility than to their fixity in the fire, and are therefore di- vided into, A. Malleable, which are called metals ; and B. Brittle, which are called fe?ni metals. The zinc is, however, as a medium between thefe two divifions, juft as the quickfilver is between the perfect and imperfedl metals, becaufe the quickfilver may indeed be lb far deftroyed in the fire, that its particles are fepa- rated during their volatilifation ; bur every one of them, even the minuteft, retains however- the phlogifton united with it. the MINERALOGY. 165 the length of ninety-eight yards, by which means grain becomes vifible to the naked eye. 4. Its foftnds comes neareft to that of lead^ and confequently it is but very little elailic. 5. It is fixed and unalterable in air, water, and fire, becaufe it does not eafily quit its phlogifton •, its liquid menflruum (7"") be- ing only made by art. It has, however, according to Flom- •berg^s experiments, when expofed to Tfchirnhaufen’s burning- glafs, been found partly to volatilife in form of fmoke, and partly to fcorify : But this wants to be farther examined. It is alfo faid, .that gold in certain circumftances, and By means of certain artifices in ele6cri- cal experiments, may be forced into glafs ; and that on this occafion it becomes white, leaving a black dull behind it ; which, if fo, confirms certain other chemical expe- riments ; viz. That gold can, together with its colour, lofe fomething of its phlo- gifl'on, and yet retain its heavinefs, dudi- rity, &c. 6. When melted, it refleds a bluciflr green colour from its furface. 7. It diffolves in aqua regia, which is com- pofed of the acids of fea-falt and nitre •, but not in either alone, nor in any other Elu- tion of fait or acid whatfoever. 8. When mixed with a volatile alcali and a little of the acid of nitre, by means of precipitation out of aqua regia, it burns off quickly, in the leail degree of heat, with a fuong fulmination. M 3 9 - it A SYSTEM OF ;i66 9. It is dlffolved, in forma ficca^ by the liver of fulphur, and alfo fomewhat by the glafs of bifmuth. JO. It is not carried away by the antimony during the volatiiifation of that femi-metal, and is therefore conveniently feparated from other metals by the help of crude antimony, in which procefs the other me- tals are partly made volatile, and fly off with the antimony, and partly unite with the fulphur, to which the gold has no at- tra( 5 lion, unlefs by means of fome uniting body, or by a long digeftion. ij. The phofphorus is laid to have ingrefs into gold. 12. If mixed with a lefs portion of filver, platina, copper, iron, and zinc, it preferves tolerably well its duftility ; but, 13. When mixed with tin it becomes very brittle ; and It attracts likewife the fmoke of that metal, fo as to be fpoiled, if melted in an hearth where tin has been lately melted : And this is perhaps the reafon why gold becomes brittle, and of a paler colour, when melted in a new black lead crucible (Seeft. cliv.) 14. It requires a ftrong heat before it melts, nearly as much, or a little more than copper. 1 5. It mixes or amalgamates readily with quickfilver. j6. It is not diflblved by the glafs of lead, and therefore remains on the cuppel. In confequence of thefe its principal qualities, it feems as if it could never be found in the earth but in a native or pure ftate \ MINERALOGY. iGj ftate *, there are, however, fevera! inftances that it has been found dilTolved or mine- ralifed. SECT. CLXV. A, Native Gold, Aurum nativum^ Is in its metallic form commonly pure : And in this ftate moft part of this metal ufed in the world is found. With refped to either the figure or the quantity in which it is found in one place, it is by miners divided into, 1. Thin fuperficial plated or leaved gold, which confifts of very thin plates or leaver, like paper. 2. Solid or mafTive, is found in form of thick pieces. 3. Criftallifed, confifts of an angular or crif- taliine figure. 4. Wafh Gold, or Gold Duft, is wafhed out of fands, wherein it lies in form of loofe grains and lumps ^ The gold is in general more fr-equently imbedded and mixed with quartz^ than with any other kind of ftone ; and idle quartz in which the gold is found in the Hungarian gold mines is of a peculiar appearance. All other forte of ftones, however, are not to be excluded, Unce gold is likewife found in fome of them ; for inftance, in limeftone (Sed. ix.) in Adolph FreJrik’s Grufva at Adelfors, in the province of Smo- iand ; in Hornblende (Sedl. Ixxxviii,), in Ballnas Grufva at Riddarfhyttan, in the province of Weflmanland ; not to men- tion feveral foreign gold mines. The greateft quantity of gold is imported into Europe from Chili and Peru, in America; and a little from China, and the coaft of Africa. The chief European gold mines are thofe of Hungary, and next to them thofe at Saltzburg. Befides thefe, there are fome others of lefs confequence^ among which the gold mines at Adelfors in Smoland deferve to be taken much •notice of, not only on account of the veins already worked, ■bat alfo in regard to the vaft tradf of land, within which new M 4 veins i68 A SYSTEM GF SECT. CLXVI. B. Mineralifed Gold, Aurum mineralifatum. This is an ore in which the gold is fo far mineralifed, or fo entangled in other bodies, as not to be difiblved by the aqua regia. I. Mineralifed with fulphur, Aurum fulphure miner alif at urn. a. Mineralifed by means of iron, Aurum fulphure miner alifatum mediante ferro, Marcafitical gold ore. Pyrites aureus. It is found at Adelfors, in the pro- vince of Smoland, and contains an ounce of gold, or iefs, in an hundreci pounds. ^ h. Mineralifed by rneans of quickfilver, Aurum fulphure miner alifatum mediante mercurig. It is found in Hungary. c. Mineralifed by means of zink and iron, Aurum fulphure mineralifatum mediante ^inco y ferro., aut argent o. The Schem*' nitz blende. At Schemnitz in Hungary are found zink ores, which contain a great deal of filver, and this filver is very rich in gold (Seft. clxxv.) . veins are daily difeovered. The filver from the mines at Ofter- filverberget, in the province of Dalarne, contains about a fourth part of an ounce of gold in every pound of hlveir. Some native gold has likewife been found in Swappawari, above Tornea in'Lapland, and in Baflnas, near Riddarihyttan In Weflmanlar^d. ' Since gold and fulphur have no Immifcible power or at- traction to one another, rnany have infifted that gold never cq^jild be found in marcajfite, or thofe ores which contain fal- ph’;r ; But ilnce v,e know by experience^ that gold can be . meked MINERALOGY. SECT. CLXVII. 2. Silver, Argentum^ Luna\ which is, a. Of a white Ihining colour. h. Its fpecific gravity to water is 11,091 to 1000. r. It is very tough or ductile, fo that a grain of it may be itretched out to three yards in length, and two inches in breadth. melted out of the above mentioned ores, altho’ they have been previoufly digefted in aqua regia ; and that gold like- wife mixes and diffolves into a regulus; there is the greateft reafon to believe that a third fubftance, which here is a me- tal, muft necefTarily have by its admixture enabled the fulphur to unite with a certain quantity of gold. Schefier has givea upon this fubjeft fome very curious and ufeful obfervations, in his Hiftory of the Refining of Metals, inferted in the Tranf- adions of the Academy of Sciences at Stockholm. It is very remarkable that the Mine-Mafter Henckel, in his excellent Treatife de Appropriatione, Ihould be fo obftinate in denying that marcafite could contain a difTolved gold. It is, however, by no means hereby intended to confirm the credulous in their opinion, that the marcafites in general con- tain more gold than what true metallurgilts have afferted ; be- caufe fraud might then perhaps become too common. It is only meant to indicate, that, as no gold is to be expeded from marcafites, where no native gold is found in the neigh- bourhood, in the fame manner no marcafites ought to be de- fpifed, which are found in tracks where gold ores are dug ; but at the fame time care mull be taken not to be deluded by the mention of volatile gold, as it is a notion really contra- didory and fufpicious, and then there can be no fear of be- ing mifled. i am not perfedly clear, if the gold is really difTolved and indurated, or, if 1 may fo exprefs myfelf, vitrified in the Shirls (Schirlkornern), provided by this mineral body is meant a garnet fabflQ,nce (Sed. Ixviii.) But I have feen a piece of what is called 5/^/V/, whofe texture was exadly like the Schemnitz blende ; and in this cafe it might perhaps hold the fame contents (Sed. clxxv.) For the other gold ores, I iiave not ]+ad an opportunity of feeing any from thofe places where gold is fearched for and really found. A SYSTEM OF d. It is unalterable in air, water, and fire.' e. It diflblves in the. acid of nitre, and alfo by boiling in the acid of vitriol. /. If precipitated out of the acid of nitre with the common fait, or with its acid, it unites fo ftrongly with this laft acid, that , it does not part from it, even in the fire itfelf, but melts with it into a mafs like glafs, which is called luna cornea, g. It does not unite with the femi-metal nickel, during the fufion. h. It amalgamates eafily with quickfilver. i. It is in the dry way diflblved by the liver of fulphur, k. It has a ftrong attra6tion to fulphur, fo as readily to take a reddifh yellow or black colour, when it is expofed to fulphureous vapours. /. It has no attraflion to arfenic ; whence when the red arfenical filver ore, or Roth« gulden Ertz of the Germans, is put into the fire, the arfenic flies off, and leaves the fulphur (which in this compound was the medium iiniens) behind, united with the filver in form of the glafs filver ore, or glais ertz. in. It is not diffolved by the glafs of lead, and confequently it remains on the cuppel. n. It is exhaled or carried off by volatile me- tals and acids, as by the vapours of anti-' mony, zink, and the acid of common fait. It melts eafier than copper. SECT, MINERALOGY. 171 SECT. CLXVIII. Silver is found, 'A. Native or pure. Argentum purum nativum. Native fjlver moft generally is • nearly of fixteen carats ftandard. 1. Thin fuperficial plated or leaved filver. 2. It is alfo found in form, a. Of fnaggs, and coarfe fibres. b. Of fine fibres. Capillary filver. €, Arborefcent. From Potofi in America, and Kongfberg in Norway. d. Criflalline, or figured. This is very fcarce to be met with : it has diftin<^ figures, with fhining furfaces; it is, however, fometimes found at Kongfberg. The filver from America is faid to be found for the moft part native ; fo it is iikewife at Kongfberg in Norway, but it is not commonly fo in the other Eu- ropean mines. In Sweden it is found native in a very fmall quantity, in the mines of Salberg in Weftmanland, of Lofafen in Dalarne, of Hevaflwik and Sladkierr in the province of Dal, of Sunnerfkog in the province of Smo- land, and in the Ifland Utoen in the Lake Malaren. It v/as once found in pretty large lumps in a vein of clay in one of the iron mines at Normark, in the province of Wermeland. It was there mixed with nickel, which was partly decayed or withered ; and under this circumftance it formed the com- pound ore called the Stercus Anferinum^ or Goofe-dung Ore. At this place the argilia- A SYSTEM OP argillacepiis vein crofTes the veins of the iron ore, and will perhaps be found to have more of thefe riches, even in feve- ral other places, if well fearched, as is dpne in other countries, oftentimes not on fuch evident marks or figns. SECT. CLXIX. DilTolved and mineralifed, Argentum miner a- lifatum, ' I. With fulphur alone, Argentum fulphure mineralifatum, Giafs fiiver ore, Minera ar~ genti vitrea. This is duflile, and of the fame colour as lead-, but, however, becomes blacker in the air. It has, therefore, very unde- fervedly got the name of giafs ore, for that name rather belongs to the minera ar genti cornea^ or hprn iilver ore, if indeed any lilver ore can be confidered as glafly. It is found in the fame manner as na~ tive gold viz. 1. In crufts, plates, or leaves. 2. Grown into, a. Snaggs, and, h. Criftaliine figures. It is generally either of a lamellar or a grained texture, and is found at Kongfberg and in the Saxon mines. The giafs fiiver tire is the richeft of all fiiver ores j fince the fulphur, which is united with the fiiver in this ore, makes out but a veryfmall quan- • tity of its weight. SECT. MINERALOGY. SECT. CLXX. 2. With fulphur and arfenic. Argentum fulphure arfenico miner alif at U 7 n, Mincra argentl Yuhra^ The red or ruby-like filver ore. The Rothgulden of the Germans. The colour of this ore varies as the pro- portion of each of thefe ingredierits varies in the mixture •, viz. from dark grey ta deep red: but when it is rubbed of pounded, it always gives a red colour. When put in the fire, it crackles and breaks ; and when the crackling ceafes'*, it melts eafily, the arfenic at the fame time exhaling in fmoke. a. Grey arfenical fiiver ore *, which is either, 1. Plated, crufted, or leaved, and, 2. Solid. h. The red arfenical fiiver ore. 1. Plated, crufted, or leaved^ 2. Solid or fcaly, and, 3. Criftallifed. In this' laft form it (hews the moft beautiful red colour, and is often femi-tranfparent. It contains about fixty per cent, in fiiver *, and is found- in the greateft quantity at Andreaf- berg in the Hartz. SECT. CLXXI. 9. With fulphurated arfenic and copper. Ar- gentum arfenico & cupro fulphurato fninera- lifatum. Minera argenti albi^ The Weijf- gulden of the Germans. This, in its folid form, is of a light- grey colour, and of a dull and fceel-grained tex- ture. i>j 4 A S Y S T E M O F ture. The more copper it contains, the darker is the colour* It often holds feven pounds of filver per cent. It is, a. Friable, withered, or decayed, of a black or footy colour, and is therefore by the Germans called Silher -Schwartz^ or Rujfigtes-Ertz. h. Solid, of a light-grey colour, and is that fort properly fo called Weiflgulden. It IS found at St. Mary of the mines in Alfatia, the Saxon mines, and at St, Andreafberg in the Hartz. SECT. CLXXII. 4, With fulphurated arfenic and iron, Ar- gentum ferro arfenico fulphurato miner ali- fatumy The fVeifertZy or white filver ore, of the Germans. This is an arfenical pyrites, which con- tains filver j it occurs in the Saxon mines, and fo exa6Uy refembles the common ar- fenical pyrites as not to be diflinguifhed from it by fight alone, or without other means. The filver it contains may per- haps confift of very fubtile capillary filver mixed in it. However, I have not had an opportunity to examine this circumilance. SECT. CLXXIIL 5. With fulphurated antimony. Argentum antimonio fulphurato mineralifatum. a. Of a dark-grey and fomewhat brownifii colour. The Leber erzy from Braunl- dorff in Saxony. h. Of a blackifh blue colour, ■( Ini MINERALOGY. ^75 I. In form of capillary criftals,* Miner a argenti antimonialis capillaris, Fcder- ertz^ or pi u mole filver ore. It is found in Saxony, and contains only two or four ounces of filver per cent. SECT. CLXXIV. With fulphurated copper and antimony. Argentum cupro & antimonio fulphurato mi- neralifatum. The Dal Falertz, This refembles, both in colour and tex- ture, the dark-coloured Weiflgulden, or Falertz. When rubbed, it gives a red powder. Solid. b. Criftallifed, is found in the parifli of Aminlkog, in the province of Dal j and at that place has been for feveral years melted by a method invented for the different mixture of the ores; which procefs muft be very troublefome to thofe who are not perfedtly well verled in metallurgy. It contains thirteen ounces of filver, and twenty-four per cent, of copper. SECT. CLXXV. 7. With fulphurated zink. Argentum zinco fulphurato miner alif at um, , The Pechblende of the Germans. This is a zink ore, mock lead, or blende, which contains filver, and is found among rich filver and gold ores ; for inflance, in the Hungarian and Saxon mines. a. Of tj6 A SYSTEM OF a. Of a metallic changeable colour; 1. Solid, and with line fcales. 2 . In form of balls. The Kugel-ertZi or ball ore. It is found at Schemnitz, and con- tains alfo gold. Its yield of filver is twenty-four ounces per cent, and thirty per cent, of zink. b. Black mock lead, or blende, found in Saxony. This is alfo found, 1 . Solid, and with fine fcales 2 . And in form of balls. SECT* CLXXVi. 6. With fulphurated lead. Potter’s ore. Ga- lena^ Bleyglanz. See Se6l. clxxxviii. g. With fulphurated lead and antimony, called Striperz. See Se6l. cxc. 10. With fulphurated iron. Argentum ferro fulphurato miner alifatum, Silberhaltiger kies^ Marcafite holding filver. At Kongfberg in Norway, it is faid, a liver-coloured marcafite is often found, particularly at the mine called Fraulein Chriftiana, &c. This marcafite contains of filver from three to three ounces and an half per cent. SECT. CLXXVIL 11. With the acid of common fait. Argent uni acido falis folutum ^ miner alif at um. Miner a argenti cornea. Hcrnertz., or horn filver ore. This is the fcarceft filver ore ; it is of a white or pearl colour, changeable or varying on the furface, femi-tranfparent, and MlNERAl. OGY. 17; and fomewhat ductile, both when crUdcs and when melted. It cannot be decom- pofed without fome admixture of fuch fub- llances as attra6t the acid of the fea-falt. It is found in very thin worked or wrought leaves or crufts, at Johan Georgenftadt, in Saxony. SECT. CLXXVIIL Observations on the Silver Ores. Silver may, perhaps, be found mineralifed in the like manner with other metals than thefe here enumerated, fuch as with cobalt and bifmuth-, but having no certain knowledge of fuch mineralifa- tions, 1 omit them here. It would be worthy ex- amining, if in thofe mine countries where gold and filver are found in quantity, other ores do not contain a little of thofe metals, more efpecially when the particles of filver and gold have not been able to extricate themfelves from the other minerals, and lie feparate from them in the fiftures, veins, and fhakes or wranks, that is hollow places, in the mines. Thofe filver ores which are named from earth or ftones, v/herein the filver is found ; as, for in- ftance, in the Goofe-dung filver ore, and the Le^ berertz \ ought no more to be coniidered in a na- tural fyftem than other diftinflions v/hlch are ufed at mineral works, and are only names given to the ores, according to the feveral changes they undergo to make them fit for the melting procefs. In this our time a mlneralifation of niver v/ith alcali has been mentioned : it is faid to have been found at Annaberg in Auitria ; But this difcovery, which is made by a mine- mailer, Mr. Von Juili, N requires A SYSTEM OF 178 requires an explanation, fince the author in his-- delcription does not obferve the necefTary diftinc- tion between alcali and lime i and quotes the horn* fiiver ore, and the luna cornea^ as proofs of his opinion ^ by v/hich, however, his opinion feems rather weakened than confirmed. SECT. CLXXIX. 3. Platina- del Pinto, Platina di Pinto, Juan hlanca. This metal is a recent dlfcovery of our times, and is defcribed with great accuracy by Scxhefter, in the A6ls of the Royal Aca- demy of Sciences at Stockholm, for the year 1752; as alfo by Dr. Lewis, in the Philofo- phicai Tranfaflions for the year 1754, vcl; xlviii. And though thefe two genrlemen agree in the principal circiimilances relating to this metal, yet it is very plain by their defcriptions, that neither of them knew any thing of the other’s experiments. By theie defcriptions we are convinced of the refem- blance this metal bears to gold ; and there- fore we muit allow it to be called ‘u^hite goldy though, both theoretically and practically, it •may be diftinguiilied from gold by the fol- lowing qualities. 1. It is of a white colour. 2. It is fo refraclory in the fire, that there is no degree of heat yet found by which it can be brought into fufion by itfelf, the burning-glafs excepted, v/hich has not yet been tried. But, when mixed v/ith other metals, and femi- metals, it melts very eafily, and efpecially with arfenic, both in its mineralogy. ' its metallic form, and in form of a calx or glafs. 3. It docs not amalgamate with quickfilver by itfelf, but only by means of the acid of common fait after a long trituration. This metal is therefore really feparated from gold by amalgamation, at thofe places where it is found ; and without this qua- lity, it would be very difiicult to feparate it. 4. It is harder and lefs coherent than gold. 5. It is heavier than gold •, and therefore the heavieft of all bodies hitherto diicovered : For though the fpecific gravity of platina^ in the hydroftatical experiments miade by Dr. Lewis, is found to be to water only as 17,000 to 1000 ; yet, when merced with other certain metals, its fpecific gravity has, by an exact calculation, been found to be confiderably augmented, even fa mmch as to 22,000. 6. DiiTolved in aqua regia, and precipitated v/ith tin, or with a folution of that mxtalj it yields no purpura miner alis. Except thefe, this metal has the fame qualities as gold *, but it cannot, on ac- count of its refraflorinefs in the fire, be worked off pure on the cuppel, nor like- wife can it be worked with antimony •, be- caufe, before it is rendered perfeftly pure, it cools, grows hard, and retains always fome part of the added metals. It is brought to us only in its native (late, in fmall, irregular, rugged grains \ and it is yet uncertain whether it is found naturally mineralifed. The Flatina is brought to N 2 Europe i8-o A SYSTEM OF Europe from the Rio de Pinto, in tfse Spanifh Weft-Indies. SECT. CLXXX. 4. Tin, Stannum^ Jupiter, This is diftinguifhed from the other metals by its following characfters and qualities. a. Of a white colour, which verges more to the blue than that of filver. h. It is the moft fufible of all metals ; and, c. The leaft duftile •, that is, it cannot be extended or hammered out fo much as the others. d. In breaking or bending it makes a crack- ling noife. e. It has a fmell particular to itfelf, and which cannot be deferibed. /. In the fire it is eafily calcined to white afhes, which are twenty-five per cent, hea- vier_ than the metal itfelf. During this operation, the phlogifton is feen to bum off in form of fmall fparkles among the afhes, or calx. g. This calx is very refractory •, but may, however, with a very ftrong degree of heat, be brought to a glafs of the colour of hard refin. But this calx is eafily mixed in glafs compofitions, and makes with them the white enamel. h. It unites with ail metals and femi-metals ; but renders moft of them very brittle, ex- cept lead, bifmuth, and zink. i. It amalgamates eafily with quickfilver. k. It difTolves in aqua regia, the fpirit of fea- falt, and the vitriolic acid •, but it is only corroded MINERALOGY. iSr corroded into a white powder by the fpirlt of nitre. The vegetable acid, foaps, and pure aka- line falts, alfo corrode this metal by degrees. l . Its fpecific gravity to water is as 7400 to 1000, or as 7321 to 1000. m, DilTolved in aqua regia, which for this purpofe ought to confift of equal parts of the fpirit of nitre and fea-falt, it heightens the colour of the cochineal, and makes it deeper j for otherwife that dye would be violet. SECT. CLXXXL Tin is not found naturally in the earth in any other ftate than^ I. In form of a calx, Stannum calciforme. Indurated, or vitrified, Induratum. I . Mixed with a little of the calx of arfenic, Minera ftanni vitrea arfe- ni calls. Solid tin ore, without any deter- minate figure, Tin-ftone. It refembles a g;arnet of a blackifh brown colour, but is a great deal heavier ; and has been confidered at the Englifh tin- mines as a flone, containing no metal, until fome years ago it began to be fmeked to great ad- vantage. h. Criftallifed, Cryftallifatum^ Tin- grains, Is like the garnets, of a fphe- rical polygonal figure, but looks more unduous on the lurface. N 3 1. In 1^2 4 SYSTEM OF 1. In larger grains ; and, 2. in fmalier grains. SECT. CLXXXIL 2. Tin mixed with the calx of iron, Se6t. Ixx. 3. Tin mixed with the manganefe, Secft. cxvii. 4. Tin mineralifed with fulphur and iron, black lead. Se£t. chv^. SECT. CLXXXIIL Observations on. Tin. It has indeed been afierted by fome, that Tin is found native in the earth > but, for my own part, like many others, I doubt much of it, hav- ing never feen a fingle fpecimen that could be called native tin. It is, however, remarkable that tin is fo fcarce, and is not found in any confider- able quantity or purity in any other places in Eu- rope than in England and Saxony. It is likewife Vv'orthy obfervation, that when its ore is profitable, or CO be worked to any advantage, it is always in foriib^f an indurated calx, which anfwers to thole glafTes, that are prepared from metallic calces in pur laboratories : Therefore, in regard to this re- femblance, as well as to what this Mineralogical Efiay requires from’ its readers, I have ufed the term caix^ in delcribing the metals ; by which word is underftood the fame as the chemifts call 3, pr meiallonm phlogifto privata. 1 he tin muii, ho\yever, be mineralifed with fvdpliUr in the black lead *, but the queftion is, y/herher ihat would have happened if the iron had \ MINERALOGY. 183 not been prefent ? -This compound, or black lead, and many more, in which the iron and tin are united, are not eafily to be examined by the common docimaftical means : However, eafier proceiTcs may pofTibly, forne time or other, be difcovered, and employed for fuch fubftances. SECT. CLXXXIV. 5. Lead, rUmhum^ Saturnus. It is a. Of a blueifli white colour when frelh broke, but foon dulls or fullies in the air. h. Is very heavy ^ viz. to water as 11,325 to 1000. c. Is fofteil next to gold, but has no great tenacity, and is not in the lead fonorous. d. It is eafily calcined ; and, by a certain art in managing the degrees of the fire, its calx becomes white, yellow, and red. £, This calx melts eafier than any other me- tallic calx to a glafs, which becomes of a yellow colour, and femi-tranfparent. This glafs brings other bodies, and the imper- fccl metals, into fufion with it. /. It diffolves, I ft, in the fpirit of nitre ^ 2dly, in a diluted oil of vitriol, by way of digeftion ; 3dly, in the vegetable acid ; 4thly, in alcaline folutions ; and 5thly, in exprefiecl oils, both in the form of metal and of calx. • g It giv^cs a fweet tafte to all folutions. b. It amalgamates with quickfilver. i. With the Ipirit of fea-ialt it has the fame effed: as iilver, whereby is produced a jatiirmis Cornells. k. It does not unite with iron, when it is alone added to it in the fire. N 4 /. It lU A SYSTEM OF /. It works on the cuppel, which fignifies that its glafs enters into certain porous bodies, deftitute of phlogifton, and alcaline falts. m. It meks in the fire before it is made red- hot, almoft as eafily as the tin. Its calx or glafs may be reduced to its me- tallic ftate by pot-afiies. SECT. CLXXXV, Lead is found, A- In form of a calx. Miner a plumhi calciformis, 1. Pure, Miner a plumhi calciformis pur a, a. Friable, lead ochre, Ceruffa nativa^ Native cerufs, is found at Kriftierfberget in Weftmanland, on the furface of the potter’s ore. ]?, Indurated, Lead fpar, or fpatofe lead ore, Sp at um plumhi, j. Radiated, or fibrous. a. White, from Mendip-Hills, in England. 2. Criftallifed into a prifmatical figure. White, from Norrgrufva in Weft- manland. h, Yellowifh green, from Zchopau in Saxony, SECT. CLXXXVI. 2. Mixed, Miner a plumhi calciformis mixta, a. With the calx of arfenic, Arfenic lead- fpar. I. Indurated. a. White. I have tried fuch an ore from an unknown place in Ger- many, and found that np metallic lead \ MINERALOGY. lead could be melted from it by means of the blowpipe, as can be done out of other lead fpars j but it mull be performed in a crucible, and then that part of the arfenic •which did not fly off in fmoke, during the experiment, was like- wife reduced, and found in form of grains difperfed, and forced into the lead. Another ore of this kind, which Hkewife was not eafily re- duced by means of the blowpipe, did always after being melted, and during the cool’ng, haftily flioot into polygonal, but mofdy hexago- nal criftals, with fhining furfaces. Can this criflallifation be owing to falts, which are faid not to a6l in this manner, butv/hen they are dif- folved in water ? I, With a calcareous ^arth gee Seft. XXX vii. * The abovemen tioned lead ores are very rich in lead, and eafy to be tried ; becaufe moft of them, being flowly heated, may be reduced to lead by means of the blowpipe on a piece of charcoal. The calx of the lead in thefeores has, perhaps, firft been di/ToIved by fulphur and arfenic, and has afterwards, when thefe two have weathered away or decayed, and parted from it, alTumed this form ; in the fame manner as we fee it really happens during the calcination, with rich lead ores, or fuch regules as contain lead. The fame, very likely, is the pafe with other metals ; for which reafon their ores, when they occur in form of a calx, often contain a little fulphur, and more efpecially arfenic. SECT, A SYSTEM OF SECT. CLXXXVII. B* Mineralifed, Plumbum miner alifatum, I . With fulphur alone. Plumbum fiilphure ml- neralifatum: The Bley-Schweiff^ or Bley- glanz^ of the Germans. a. Steel-grained lead ore, from the mines at Hellefors, in the province of Wefl- manland. h. Radiated, or antimoniated lead ore. c. Teffellated, or potters lead ore. At Villach in- Auflria there is faid to be found a potters lead ore, which con- tains not the leaft portion of filver, SECT. CLXXXVIII. '2. With fulphurated filver. Plumbum argent o fulphurato jnineralifatum. Galena \ alfo called Bleyglanz by the Germans. a. Steel-grained, is found in the mines of Salberg and Hellefors, in the province of Weftmanland ^ and in the Dorotliea- mine, in the Hartz in Germany. b. With fmall fcales, is found at Salberg, and is there particularly called Blyfcb‘weif, c. Fine-grained, found at Salberg. d. Of a fine cubical texture ^ and, e. Of coarfe cubes. Thefe two varieties are found in all the Swedifh Giver mines. /. Criftallifed, from GiGof in the province of Skone*. * The fteel-gralned and Tcaly ores are of a dim and dull ap- pearance when they are broke, and their particles have no de- termined angular figure: They are therefore in Swedifh com- monly called Blyfchnveify in oppofition to the cubical ores, which are called Blyglanz, But, in my opinion, the ores ought tp MINERALOGY. SECT. CLXXXIX. 2. With fulphurated iron and filver, Plum-^ hum ferro argento fulphurato mineralifa^ tiim^ is found, a. Fine-grained. h. Fine cubical, Coarfe cubical. Thefe are found at Weilerfilfverberget, in Weftmanland. When this ore is fcorified, it yields a black flag ; whereas the preceding lead ores yield a yellow one, becaufe they do not contain any iron. - SECT. CXC. * 4. With fulphurated antimony and fllver. Plumbum antimpnio C? argent^ fulphurjzto miner alif at um.- Antimoniated or radiated lead ore. This has the colour of a Bl^glanz^ but is of a radiated texture. It is found, a. Of fine rays or fibres, and. Of coarfe rays or fibres. And is got in Maklos Schacht and Fierde-Bottn, in the mine of Salberg in Weftmanland. The lead in this ore prevents any ufe being made of the anr to be denominated and didingulfhed from one another accord- ing to their metallic contents. No ore ought, by virtue of the mofl received notion, to be called Bly/chwelff but that which contains only lead and fulphur. The moft part of the ores called Blyglan% contain filver, even to twenty-four ounces per cent, of which we have inftances in the mines of Salberg^ where it has been obferved that the coarfe cubical lead ores are generally the richeft in iilver, contrary to what is commonly taught in books ; the reafon of which may perhaps be, that, in making the efiays on thefe two ores, the coarfe cubical cari be chofen purer or freer from the than the fine cubical ores. timony . A SYSTEM OF fi?S timony to advantage ; and the antimony likewife in a great meafure hinders the extracting of the filver. SECT. CXCL Observations on Lead Ores. I know of no native lead; and all which has been faid on that fubjecl is liable to -remarkable reftriCtions^ Such of the potters ores as do not contain any filver are very fcarce ; yet they are often found fo poor in filver, that it does not anfwer the ex- pences of extracting, Thefe, when they are free ' from mixtures of the rock, are, without any pre- vious fufion, employed to glaze earthen*ware ; and a great trade is carried on in the Mediterra- nean with fuch ores, from the lead-mine^ of Sar^ dinia and France. SECT. CXCIL &, Copper, Cuprum^ Venus^ As, This metal is, a. Of a red colour. h. The fpecific gravity of the Japan copper is 9000, and' of the Swedilh 8784 or 8843, to 1000. t. It is pretty foft and tough. d. The calx of copper being difiblved by acids becomes green, and by alcalies blue. e. It is eafily calcined in the fire into a blackifh blue fubftance, which, when rubbed to a fine powder, is red; when melted together with glafs, it tinges it firft reddifh MINERALOGY. red difii brown, and afterwards of a tranf- parent green or fea-green colour, f. It diffolves in all the acids *, viz. The acids of vitriol, fea-falt, nitre, and the vegeta- ble ; and likewife in all alcaline folutions. That it becomes rufty, and tarniflies in the air (a confequence of a former folution), depends very much on fome vitriolic acid which is left in the copper in the refining of it. This metal is eafier dilfolved when in form of a calx than in a metallic ftate, efpecially by the acids of vitriol and fea- falt, and the vegetable acid. g. Vitriol of copper is of a deep blue colour, but the vegetable acid produces with the copper a green fait, which is verdigrife. h. It can be precipitated out of the folutions in a metallic ftate ; and this is the origin of the precipitated copper of the mines, called Ziment copper. i. It is not ealily amalgamated with quick- filver •, but requires for this purpofe a ver)^ ftrong trituration, or the admixture of the acid of nitre. k. It becomes yellow w^hen mixed with zink, which has a ftrong attradion to it, and makes brafs, pinchbeck, &c. l. It is eafily diftolved by lead glafs, which laft is coloured green by it. m. When this metal is expofed to the fire, it gives a green colour to 'the flame in the moment it begins to melt, and continues to do fo afterwards, without loflng any thing confiderable of its weight. n. It requires a ftrong degree of heat before it melts, yet is it a leftcr degree than for iron. SECT. JO ASYSTEMOP SECT. CXCIIL Copper is found in the earth, A. Native, or in a metallic ftate ; Virgin or na- tive copper. Cuprum nativum, 1, Solid, Solidur/iy is found in the iron mine of Hefslekulla, in the province of Nerike^ and at Sunnerfkog, in the province of Smo- land; alfo in the Ruffian Carelia, and in other foreign places. 2. Friable, in form of fmall, and fomewhat coherent grains. Cuprum nativum particulis conglomeratis diJUn^is, Precipitated or Zi- ment Copper. It is found at Riddarfhyttan in Weftmanland, at Fahlun in Dalarne, and in Hungary. It has been obferved, that both copper and filver glafs ore, being precipitated frorn water, become friable and granulated, but that they in time grow folid and ductile : whence the difpute about the diftindtion between native and precipitated copper may ceafe, the rather as native copper will fcarcely be found in other places, and in any other kinds of ftones, than through which the ziment or vitriolic waters have' circulated ; altho’ the fiffures thro’ which it has run may afterwards be filled with a flony fubftance. SECT. CXCIV. jS. In form of a calx, Miner a cupri calciformiSi I . Pure, Miner a cupri calciformis pur a. a. Loofe or friable, Ochra veneris^ I,' Blue, Cceruleim montanum. Is MINERALOGY. igt . Is very feldom found perfeflly free from a calcareous fubflance. 2. Green, Viridc montanum. Both thefe colours depend on men- ftrua, which often are edulcorated or waihed away. 3. Red. This is an efflorefcence of the glals copper ore. It is found in the province of Dal, and at Oftanberg, in the province of Dalarne. SECT. CXCV. b. Indurated, Indurata, Glafs copper ore^" a. Red, Miner a cupri calciforynis pur a indurata^ colore ruhro* This is fometimes as red as feal- ing-wax, and fometimes of a more iiver-brown colour. It is found in Sandbacken, at Norberg in Weftman- land, at Ordal in Norway, in Siberia^^ and in Suabia in Germany. This ore is always found along with native copper, and feems to have loft its phlogifton by way of effloref- cence, and to be changed into this form. It is likewile found along with the fulphurated copper, and is com- monly, though very improperly, called- Glafs copper ore. SECT. CXCYL 2. Mixed, Miner o. cupri calciformis impurai d, Loofe or friable,. Ochra veneris friabilis impura. 1 . Mixed A SYSTEM Of 192 1, Mixed with a calcareous fubftance^' -Ochra veneris terra calc area mixta, Cccruleum montanum. In this ftate copper blue is moftly found. It fer- ments during the folution in aqua fortis. See S^ecft. xxxiv. 2. Mixed with iron. Black. It is the decompofition of the Fahlun copper ore. Se6t. cxcviii. a, h. Indurated, Minera cupri calciformis m* pura indurata, 1. Mixed with gypfum, or plafter. Green. Is found at Ordal in Nor- way, and there called Malachites. 2. Mixed with quartz. Red. From Sunnerlkog, In the province of Smo- land. Sedl. liii, B, 3. Mixed with lime. Blue. This is the lapis armenus^ according to the accounts given of it by authors. SECT. CXCVII. C. Diffolved and mineralifed. Cuprum minerali- fatwn, I. With falphur alone. Cuprum fulphure mi~ 7ieralifatum, Grey copper ore. Is impro- perly alfo called Glafs copper ore. a. Solid, without any certain texture, Mi- 71 era cupri [ulphurata folida t ex turd inde- te'njiinatd. This is very foft, fo that it can be cut with a knife, ahnoft as eafily as black lead. I, Fine cubical, Minera cupri fulphurata tejjulis conjians minorihus. Both thefe varieties are found at Sun- nerfkog, in Smoland \ where the lail is fometimes MINERALOGY. ^93 fometimes found decompofed or weathered, and changed into a deep mountain blue, Se6t. cxciv. SECT. CXCVIII. 2* With fulphurated iron, Minera cupri pyru tacea : Yellow copper ore. MarcaPitical copper ore. Pyrites cupri* This is various both in regard to colour, and in regard to the different proportion of each of the contained metals ; for inftance : Cl* Blackifh grey, inclining a little to yel- low, Pyrites cupri grifeus* When decayed or weathered, it is of a black colour ; is the richeft of all the varieties of this kind of copper ore, yielding between 50 and 60 per cent, and is found in Spain and Germany. i* Reddifh yellow, or liver brown, with a blue coat on the furface, Minera cupri lazurea. This ore yields between 40 and 50 per cent, of copper^ and is commonly faid to be blue, though it is as red when frefli broke, as a rich copper regulus, c. Yellowilli green. Pyrites cupri fui'Vo virU defcens. This is the mod common in the north part of Europe j and is, in regard to its texture, found 1. Solid, and of a fhining texture, from Oftanberg, in the province of Dalarne. 2. Steel-grained, of a dim texture, from the fame place, and Falun in Dalarne. 3. Coarfe-grained, is of an uneven and fhining texture. It occurs in mod of O the .194 A SYSTEM OF the Swedifli and Norwegian copper mines. 4. Criftallifed marcafitical copper ore. a. Of long o6loHdrical criftals. This is found at Hevaflwik, in the province of Dal, and in Lo- vifagrufva,. in Weftmanland ; not- • withftanding its. exiftence is denied by Henckel, and his followers. d\ Pale yellow, Pyrites cupri pallide flavus. This cannot be deicribed but as a marcafite, though an experienced eye will eafily difcover feme difference be- tween them. It is found at Tunaberg^ in the province of Sodermanland, and yields 22 per cent, of copper. e. Liver-coloured,. This is found at Falun, in Dalarne, where it contains copper*, though at moft other places, where it occurs, it does not contain any copper, but is only' a martial marc^ite. SECT. CXCIX. 3-. With fulphurated arfenic and iron-;, Cuprmr^ ferro ex arfenico fulphurato miner alt Jatiim, White copper ore. It is faid to be found in the Hartz, in^ Germany, and to refemble an arfenical py-- rites *, but I have never met with this kind.- However, moft of the pyritical copper ores, as well as the marcafites, contain a. little arfenic, though if is in too fmall a. quantity to be obferva|)le. SECT. MINERALOGY. 195 SECT. CC. 4. Diflblved by the vitriolic acid, Cuprurii acida vitrioli folutum : Vitriolum Veneris, See Sedl. cxxii. 5. With phlogiflon: Copper coal ore. See Se6t. clxi. SECT. CCL 7. Iron, Ferriim,, Mars. It is ■ Of a blackilh blue fhining colour. h. It becomes du6tile by repeated heating between coals, and hammering. <*. It is attracted by the loadflone, which is - an iron ore •, and the metal itfelf may alfol be rendered magnetical, d'» Its fpecific gravity to water is as 7,645, or 8000 : : 1000. e. It calcines eafily to a black fcaly calx^ which, when pounded, is of a deep red colour. /. When this calx is melted in great quantity with glafs compofitions, it gives a blackiOt brov/n colour to the glafs ; but in a fmall quantity a greenifli colour, which at lafl* vanifhes, if forced by a ftrong degree of heat. g. It is difTolved by all falts, by water, and likewife by their vapours. The calx of iron is difTolved by the Ipirit of fea-falt, and by aqua regia. hk The calx of the difTolved metal becomes yellow, or yellowifK brown ; and in a cer- tain degree of heat, it turns red. O 3 . u The A SYSTEM OF i. The fame calx, when precipitated from adds, by means of the fixed alcali, is of a greenifli colour ♦, but it becomes blue, when precipitated by means of an alcali united with phlogiilon, in which laft circum- itance the phlogifton unites with the iron : Thefe two precipitates lofe their colour in the fire, and turn brown. k. The vitriol of iron is green. L It is the mofi: common metal in nature^ and at the fame time the mod ufeful in common life ; notwithdanding which, its qualities are perhaps very little known. SECT. CCIL Iron is found, A. In form of calx, Miner a ferri calciformis pura, l. Pure. a. Loofe and friable, Minera ferri calcifor-- mis pur a friabilis. Martial ochre,' Mine- rd oc hr ace a, I. Powdry, Ochra ferriy is commonly yellow or red, and is iron which has been difiblved by the vitriolic acid. I, Concreted. Bog-ore. In form of round porous balls. b. More folid balls. c. In fmall flat pieces, like cakes, or pieces of money. d. In fmall grains. e. In lumps of an indeterminate figure. All thefe are of a blackifli brown, or a light brown colour. They are found in lakes in the province of Smoland ^ MINERALOGY. 197 Srnoland ; and in marfhes at Fiell- ryggen, a chain of rocks which fe- parates Sweden from Norway. SECT. can. h. Indurated, Mlnera ferri cakiformis pura indurata. The bloodftone, Hicmatites. I. Of an iron colour, Hcematites cocrulef- cem. This is of a blueifh grey colour ; it is not attradlcd by the loadfcone, yields a red powder when rubbed, and is hard. c 7 Solid, and of a dim appearance when broken. h. Cubical, and of a fhining appear- ance when broken. £, Fibrous, is the moil common ^orr- Jlen of Sweden. d. Scaly ; the Eifenman of the Ger- mans. I'his is for the niofb part as if it were micaceous, though the fcales go acrofs the ftrata of the flone. It is found at Jobfbo, in Norrberne in Dalarne, and Reka Klitr, in the province of Helfingland. I. Black, from Gellebeck, in Norway. 2^. Blueifli grey, from Reka KHrr. •When this is found alonff with O marcafite, as at Sandfwar, in Nor- way, it is not only attrafted by the loadilone, but is of itfeif really a loadfcone Sedl. ccxi. O 3 c. CriO: alii fed. ;f9S A SYSTEM OF c, Criftallifed. 1. In odloedrical criftals. 2. In polyedrical criftals. 3. In a cellular form, from Mofsgruf- ^ ' van, at Norberg in Weftmanland. Thefe‘ varieties are the moil com- mon in Sweden, and are very feldom blended with marcafite, or any other heterogeneous fubftance, except their different beds. It is remarkable, that, when thefe ores are found along with marcafite, thofe particles, which have laid neareft to the marcafite, are at- trailed by the loadflone, although they 'ydeld a redder reddifh brown powder, like thofe which are not attracted by the loadflone ; It is likewife worth obfervation, that they generally con- tain a little fulphur, if they are in- 'bedded in a lime-ftone rock, which however very feldom happens in Swe- den; but I know only one fuch in- flance, viz. at Eillfio, in Soderberke, la the province ofDalarne. Se6t. ccxiii, SECT. CCIV. ^ a. Blackifh brown bloodftone, iites nigrefeefts. Kidney ore. This yields a red. or brown powder when it is rubbed ; it is very hard> and is attradled by the loadflone. Cl. Solid, with a glaffy texture, from Weflerfilfverberget, in the province of Weflmanland. h. Radiated. c. Qriilallifed. MINERALOGY. ^99 1 . In form of cones, from Siberia. 2. In form of concentrick balls, with a facetted furface. Thefe are very common in Ger- many, but very fcarce in Sweden. SECT. CCV. 3. Red blood fionc, Jus Red kidney ore. a. Solid, and dim in its texture, from Wefterfilfverberget, in Weft- manland. Scaly. The Eifenman of ihe Ger- mans. This is commonly found along with the iron-coloured iron glimmer, (Se6t. cciii. i. d,) and fmears the hands. c, Criftallifed. I. In concentrick balls, with a flat or facetted furface. SECT. CCVI. 4. Yellow blooditone, Hematites jiavus, a. Solid. b. Fibrous, from Lammerhof, in Bo- hemia *. SECT. CeVIL 2. Iron in form of calx, mixed with hetero- geneous fubftances, Minera ferri calciformis heterogeneu a. With * The varieties of the colours in the blocducne are the fame with thofp produced in the calces of iron, made by dry or li- quid meniiTua, and afterwards expoled to dilFerent deerees of heat. A SYSTEM OF a. With a calcareous earth,- White fpa- thofe iron ore. The Stahljiein of the Germans. See Se6t. xxx. h. With a filiccpus earth. The Martial Jafper or Sinople. Se6t. Ixv. c. With a garnet earth. Garnet and coc- kle or fhirl. Se6l. Ixix, d. With an argillaceous earth. The bole, Se6l. Ixxxvi. e. With a micaceous earth. Mica. Seft, xcv. /. With manganefe. Se6l. cxvi. SECT. CCVIII. With an alcali and phlogifton, Cah martialis phlogijio jundfa^ et alcali preci* pitata. Blue martial earth. Native Pruf- fian-iike blue. j. Loofe or powdry, found among the turf in the levels of the province of Skone : Alfo in Sax Weiffenfels, and at Nor vlanden in Norway, &c. SECT. CCIX. k. With an unknowm earth, which hardens in water, Cah rmrtis terra incognita aqua indurefcente mhta, Tarras, Ce- mentum. 1 . Loofe or granulated, T err a Puzzolana^ from Naples and Civita Vecchia in Irak/. This is of a reddifli brown colour, is rich in iron, and is pretty fufibie. 2 . Indurated, Cementum induratum^ from Cologne. This MINERALOGY. 20 1 : This is of a whitifh yellow colour, contains likewife a great deal of iron, and has the fame quality with the for- mer, to harden foon in water, when mixed with mortar. This quality can- not be owing to the iron alone, but rather to fome particular modification of it, occafioned by fome accidental caufes, becaufe thefe varieties rarely happen at any other places, except where volcanos have been, or arc yet in the neighbourhood. SECT. CCX. Calx of iron, united with another un- known earth, Ferrum calcijorme terra quddam incognita intime mix turn. The F ungften of the Swedes. This is alfo, though improperly, called White Tingrains. Sedl. clxxxi. This refembles the garnet-flone, (Se It is poifonous, efpecially in form of a pure calx or glafs : But probably it is lefs dangerous when mixed with fulphur, hnce it is proved by experience, that the men at mineral works are not fo much alTefted by the fmoak of this mixture^ as by thefmoak of lead ; and that fome certain nations make ufe of the red arfenic in fmall dofes as a medicinci It unites with all metals, and is likewifc much ufed by nature itfelf to dlfiblve, or, as we term it, to mineral ife the metals, iq which its volarility, and diuolubility in w^ater, mvSt greatly contribute. It is like- Vrife moil generally mixed with fu'lpimr. CL I? A .SYSTEM OF It abforbs or expels the phlogifton, which has coloured glafles, if mixed with them in the fire. SECT. CCXXXIX. Arfenic is found, 1. Native, Arfenicum nativum\ called ^cherlcn^ cobolt and Fliegenfiein by the Germans. It is of a lead colour when frefh broken, • and may be cut with a knife, like black lead, but foon blackens in the air. It burns with a fmall flame, and goes off in fmoak. A, Solid and teftaceous, Arfenicum nativum particulis impalpahilibus tejtaceum, Scherben- cobolt. This is found in the mines of Saxony, the Hartz, and Hungary, B. Scaly, Particulis micaceis^ from Winorn at Kongtberg in Norway. C Friable and porous, Friabile et porofmn, Fliegenfiein,- 'j. With fhimng fiflures, Fiffuris nitentibus^ from Annaberg in Saxony. This is by ibme called Spigel Cobolt^ (Miner a cobalti fpecularis) according to their notions of the affinity of thefe me-, cals to one another. However, there al- ways remains after the volatilifation of the Scherbencobolt, fome calx, either o( cobalt or bifmuth, and fome fllver, though in too fmall a quantity to defervc any notice.- SEC T. CCXL. 2 .. In form of a calx, Arfenicum calciforme, A. Pure, or free from heterogeneous fub-^ (lances, Cah arfenici mtiva pura. I . Lcofe MiNERALbGt. 1. Loofe or powclry. This fort is found at Giefshubei in Saxony, but is coiiedted in a much purer (late on the fides of the rock in fome mines. 2. Indurated or hardened. This is found in form of white femi-tranfparent criftals^ in fmali cavities within the Scherbenco- bolt, at Andreafoerg in the Flartz, and in Saxony, but is very fcarce^ SECT. CCXLl. Mixed with fulphur, Cah arfenid fulplMri mixta, I. Hardened. a. Yellow. OrpimeHit, Aurlpigmentum^ from Hungary. h. Red. Native Realgar or Sandarach, from Hungary, Andreaiberg jn the Hartz, Saxony, and Rotendai in Elf^ dalen in Sweden SECT. CCXLII. C. Mixed with the calx of tin, iri the tin-* grains. Sed:. clxxxi. T>. With fulphur and filver, iri the Rothgul- den, or red filver ore. Sefl. clxxi li. With calx of lead, iri the lead-lpar. Se£l. clxxxvi; F, With calx of cobalt, in the efllorefcence of cobalt. Sed. ecxlviii. ^ The orpiment may perhaps be found naturally in loo^^ fcaly powder, as it is lometimes met with in the lliops : How- ever, I have only feen the hardened fort in coUedtions. 0^2 SECT. A SYSTEM OF SECT. CCXLIIL Mineralifed arfenic, Arfenicum miner alifatum: A, With fulphur and iron-, Arfenicum ferro fulphurato miner alijatum. Arfenical pyrites or marcafite This alone produces red arfenic, when calcined, and is found in great quantities in the mines of Lofas in the province of Dalarne : It is of a deeper colour than the following.. B, With iron only, Arfenicum metalliforme ferro mixtum. Mifspickel, This differs with regard to its particles, being 1 . Steel-grained ; 2. Coarfe-grained, from Weflerfilfverber- get; 3. Criflallifed. a. In an odoedral figure. This is the moft common kind. i. Prifmatical, from the mines of Sal- berg, Weflerfilfverberget, and Helle- fors in Weftmanland, and in many places of foreign countries -f , SECT; CCXLIV. C, With cobalt, almoft in all cobak ores. Se6l. ccxlviii. 7). With filver. SecSt. clxxi. clxxii. E. With copper. Se61:. cxcix. With antimony. Se6t., ccxxxv., Thefe kinds in Cornwall are called Silvery or White Mundics, and Plate Mundics. D. C. -f- The fulphureoLis marcafite is added to this kind, whei>red ajfenic is to be made ; but in Sweden it is fcarcer than the fulphurecus arfenical pyrites. SEC T;. SECT. CCXLV. Observations on Arsenic. Such ores as confift of arfenic united folely with iron, or with iron and fulphur, cannot be employ- ed to any other ufe than to the preparation of ar- fenical -produdts ; for which reafon they nought to be ranged among the arfenic ores. Some have indeed denied this difference between the arfenical pyritiE ; but it is however neccffary to make fome difihrence, with Tefpe61: to the prefence or abfence of fulphur, although the greateft quantity of arfe- nic is got from the calcination of the cobalt ores, and that the true arfenical pyritse do not deferve to be feparately employed. Although it is difficult to reduce the atfenic by way of precipitation, one cannot for that reafon deny it to be of a metallic nature ; for the fame way of reafoning might have been ufed againfb the zink in the calamine, before the method to extra6t that femi-metal in its metallic Hate, nov/ known, was difcovered : Sut thofe who know that metals only can be mixed with metals, fo as to preferve the folidity and fome ductility in the compound, and who at the fame time are ignorant of any me- tallic earth, which cannot be reduced to its me- tallic fiate vHgain, could never entertain fuch notions. it is indeed true, that fulplvur, in regard to tlie brittlenefs which it produces in metals, is of no worfe effedt than arfenic •, but this lafi: may by it- felf, and mixed only with a pure phlogifton, be fublimed into a metallic form, which is more plain- ly feen in the Scherbencobolt (Seel, ccxxxix. ). I cafily perceive that it may be objecfled by thofe, Q 3 who A SYSTEM OF who deny arfenic to be a femhmetal, that it as well be a fait of a peculiar nature ; as, for in- ftance, the vitriolic acid ; and that it may, like ful- phur, dilTolve the metals in form of a kind of re- gulus •, and farther, that its affuming a metallic appearance, when it is united with an inflamma- ble fiibfiance, is of no confequence, fince there are fifn and infedts who have a fhining metallic co- lour: But all this does not deferve an anfw^er, fince it has been already agreed, that fyftems muft not be too feverely criticifed. SECT. CCXLVI. 6 . Cobalt, Cohaltum, This femi-metal is, Of a whitifh grey colour, nearly as fine tempered deel. h. Is hard and brittle, and of a fine grained texture ; hence it is of a dulky, or not ihin- ing appearance. c* Its fpecific gravity to water is 6000 : : 1000, f/. It is fixt in the fire, and becomes black by calcination ; it then gives to glafies a blue colour, inclining a little to violet, which colour, of all others, is the moft fixed in fire. The concentrated oil of vitriol, aquafortis, and aqua regia, diffolve it j and the iblu- tions become red. The cobalt calx is like- wife diffolved by the fame menftrua, and alfo by the volatile alcali, and the fpirit of fea-falt. /. When united with the calx of arfenic in a flow (not a brif!<.) calcining heat, it afilimes a red colour : The fame colour is naturally produced by way of efflorefcence, and 15 then MINERALOGY. 2^1 then called the bloom or Jiozvers of cobalt. When cobalt and arfcnic are melted toge- ther in an open fire, they produce a blue flame. g. It does not amalgamate with quickfilver by any means hitherto known. h. Nor does it mix with bifmuth, when melted with it, without addition of Ibme medium to promote their union. SECT. CCXLVIL The cobalt is mofl: commonly found in tite earth mixed with iron. 'A. In form of a calx, Cobaltum calctforme, I. With iron without arfenic, Martiale abfque arfenico. a, Loofe or friable, Minera cobalti calcu formis puherulenta. Cobalt ochre, Och'ra cobalti nigra. It is black, and like the artificial zaffre. h. Indurated, Minera cobalti calciformis in- durata. Minera cobalti vitrea^ the fcblac- ken or flag cobalt. This is likewife of a black colour, but of a glalTy texture, and feems to have lofl that fubllance which mineralifed it, by being decayed or weathered. It is often confounded with the Scherbenco- bolt, for it is feidom quite free from ar- fenic \ and there may perhaps exifl: a pro- greflive feries from the Schlacken kind to the Scherbencobolt kind. Cl4 SECT. A SYSTEM OF ip SECT. CCXLVIII. With the calx of arfenic. Miner a colaltl caldformis cake arfenici mixta . Cobalt-blut, Ochra cohaltl riihra^ Bloom, Flowers, or Ef- fiorefcence of cobalt. a. Loofe or friable, Ochra cohalti fulverii^ lenta. This is often found of a red co- lour like other earths, fpread very thin on the cobalt ores, and is, when of a pale colour, erroneoufly called Flowers of Bifmuth. b. Indurated, Ochra cclalti rubra indurata. Hardened Flowers of Cobalt. This is commonly criflallifed in form of deep red femi-tranfparent rays or ra- diations : It is found at Schneeberg in Saxony SECT. CCXLIX. Mineraiifed, Cohaltum miner alijatum. I. With arfenic and iron in a metallic form, Cohaltum ferro & arfenico metalliformis mi^ • neralifatim •, vulgb Cobaltum didum. This is of a dim colour when broken, and not unlike fled. It is found a. Steel-grained, from Loos in the pariih of Farila, in the province of Helfinge- land, and at Schneeberg in Saxony. h. Fine-grained, frorn Loos. A white cobalt-earth, or ochre, is faid to have been found. It has been feen and examined by a celebrated minera- who has found it in every refpedl, except the colour, to l-efemble the cobalt flowers; and it is very pofiible, that thofe cobalt flowers might in length of time have loll their fed colour, and become white c. Coarfc'j mineralogy; Coarfe-grained. Criftailifed. 1 . In a dendritical or arborefcent form, from Schneeberg. 2. Polyedral, with Ihining furfaces ; the Glanzkobolt of the Germans, from Schneeberg. 3. In radiated nodules, from Kongfberg in Norway. SECT. CCL. ' 2. With fulphurated iron, Cohaltum ferro fulphurato miner alifatum. This is of a lighter colour than the pre- ceding, nearly like to tin or filver. It is found a, Criftailifed. I. In a polygonal form. a. Of a flaggy texture. b. Coarfe-grained. , • This kind is found in Baflnas- grufva at Riddarihyttan in Weft- manland, and difcovers not the leaft mark of arfenic. The coarfe- grained becomes flimy in the fire, and fticks to the ftirring hook dur- ing the calcination, in the fame manner as many re gules do ; and is a kind of regule prepared by nature. That fort of a flaggy texture is very martial, and is defcribed by the mine-mafter Mr. Brandt, in the y\6ls of the Swedifh Academy of Sciences for the year 1746. Both thefe give a beautiful colour. ^34 A' SYSTEM OF SECT. CCLI. 3 . With fulphur, arfenic, and iron, Cohaltum eum ferro fulphurato ct arfenicato minera^^ . , lifatum. This refembles the arfenicated cobalt ore, being only rather of a whiter or lighter colour. It is found a, Coarfe- grained. h. Criftalliled. ’ I. In a polygonal figure, with Ihining iuT{2iCts, or Glanzkoholt. It occurs at Tunaberg in the pro- vince of Sodermanland, partly of a white or light colour, and partly of a fomewhat reddifh yellow. SECT. CCLII. 4. With fulphurated and arfenicated nickel and iron j fee Kupfernickel^ Sedl. cclvi. SECT. CCLIIL Observations on Cobalt.' Since the glafs of cobalt, which has been entirely freed from all arfenic in the calcination, and from the iron and the other metals by fcorification, as when it is prepared from crifballifed cobalt flowers, may by addition of phlogifton be melted to a true cobalt regulus, which differs in its quali- ties from all other metals ; there can be no realon for denying the cobalt a place among the femi-me- tals, as many authors even at this time do, not- withitanding MINERALOGY. 2J5 withftanding the feveral reafons given, which might induce them to examine nearer into the fubject. It was the mine-mafter Mr. Brandt who firft dlfcovered this fe mi- metal, and defcribed it in the abovementioned Hiftory’ of Semi-metals, in the A 5 ia Upfalienfta for the year 1735. The brittlenefs of the cobalt regulus is no proof againft its being a femi-metal, that property being the bafis on which the diftindlion between the femi-metals and metals is founded. The earth of cobalt is fixed and vitrifiable in the fire, as well as that of copper and iron ; and the colour of its glafs being fo immutable in the fire, proves it to be a particular fubflance, diftindl from other earths and metallic calces. The experiment of making a cobalt glafs from iron or fteel and arfenic, v/ill certainly never fucceecf, unlefs the arfenic, em- ployed for that purpofe, has been made from a cobalt ore *, but if the origin of the colour fhould be afcribed to an irreducible metallic earth, there is no occafion for this experiment, becaufe a cobalt regulus may be prepared fo as to be free both from arfenic and iron, the prefence of this lafl: metal being eafily difcovered by the loadftone. It is therefore now unneceffary and ridiculous to continue the old definitions of the cobalt, in which the Speife, which partly is a cobalt regulus, and partly a compound, confifting of nickel, co- balt, and bifmuth, united with fulphur and arfenic, is either confounded with the femi-metal itfelf, or quoted as a proof, that a cobalt regulus cannot exiir in any other manner than as a dead earth in- volved in heterogeneous fubllances ; which is the fame as to conclude, that no pure copper can be produced from the copper regules or fulicns, called ^tottfterL or Spurjten,^ Thefe k^e A SYSTEM' OF Thefe faife notions have, however, induced a new author to defcribe the cobalt as a mixture of iron, copper, lead, bilmuth, and arfenic ; but he has not at the fame time publifhed any experiments which might ferve to confirm his opinion ; amongft which, with great reafon, fuch experiments are ex- pelled as imitate nature in this compofition, which is pretended to confift of fo many different things. It might then have been calculated, if it would be profitable to eftablifh manufa( 51 :ures for making =cobalt-glafs, or zaffre, in any part of the world, where the above-mentioned ingredients can be had. The word Cobalt in Germany, and efpecially at the mineral works in Saxony, is applied to the damps, the arfenic, its vapours, and their effedls on man ; which has induced the vulgar alfo to apply it to fome pretended evil fpirit, which is faid to dwell in the mines : But time will abolifh thefe fuperflitioRS, which have their origin from ignorance. SECT. CCLIV. 7, Nickel, Niccolum. This is the lateft 'difcovered femi-metal. It was firlt defcribed by its difcoverer Mr. Cronlledt in the A6ls of the Royal Academy of Sciences at Stockholm, for the*years 1751 and 1754, where it is faid to have the follow- ing qualities : That I . It is of a white colour, which however in- clines fomewhat to red. Of a folid texture, and fhining in its fractures. 2.. Its fpecific gravity to water is as 8,500 t'; 1000. 4. It MINERALOGY, 1^37 4. It is pretty fixt in the fire ; but together with the fulphur and arfenic, with which its ore abounds, it is fo far volatile, as to rife in form of hairs and branches, if in the calcination it is left without ^ being ftirred. 5. It calcines to a green calx; 6. This calx is not very fufible, but however tinges glafs of a tranfparent reddifh brown, or jacinth colour. 7. It dilTolves in aqua fortis, aqua regia, and the 'fpirit of fea-falt, but more difficultly in the vitriolic acid, tinging all* thefe folutions of a deep green colour. Its vitriol is of the fame colour i but the colcothar of this vitriol, as well as the precipitates from the folutions, become by calcination of a light green colour. 8. Thefe precipitates are diflblved by the fpirit of fal ammoniac, and the folution has a blue colour *, but being evaporated, and the fediment reduced, there is no copper, but a nickel regulus is produced. 9. It has a ftrong attradion to fulphur*, fo that when its calx is mixed with it, and puts on a fcorifying teft under the muffel, it forms with the fulphur a regule: This re- gule refembles the yellow ftecl-grained copper-ores, and is hard and fhining on its convex furface. 20. It unites with all the metals, except quickfilver and filver. When the nickel regulus is melted with the latter, it only adheres clofe to it, both the metals lying near one another on the fame plane v but they are eafily feparated with a hammer. Cobalt has the ftrongeft attradUoato nickel, after A SYSTEM OP .^38 after that to iron, and then to arfenic. The two former cannot be feparated from one another but by their fcorification, which is eafily done, fince II. This femUmetal retains its phlogifton a long time in the Bre, and its calx is re- duced by the help of a very fmall portion of inflammable matter : It requires, how- ever, a red heat before it can be brought into fufion, and melts a little fooner, or almoft as foon as copper or gold, confe- quently fooner than iron. SECT. CCLV. The nickel Is found. In form of 2LC2L\x^Niccolufncaldforme. Nickel ochre, Ochra niccoU, I. Mixed with the calx of iron, Ochra niccolt martialis. This is green, and is found in form of flowers on Kupfernickel. In Normarken in the province of Wermeland, this ochre was found without any vifible nickel mixed in the clay, which contained a great quan- tity of native filver. Sedt. clxviii. SECT. CCLVI. 5 . Mineralifed nickel, Niccolum miner alt fatum. I. With fulphurated and arfenicated iron and cobalt, Niccolum ferro cohalto arfenicatis et fulphuratis miner ali fatum. Cuprum nicolai feu niccolt, Kupfernickel, This is of a reddifli yellow colour, and is found * Of a flaggy texture, in Saxony. b. Fine- MINERAI-OGY. m h* Fine-grained, and c. Scaly, in Loos cobalt mines in the pro- vince of Helfingeland 5 at which place it is of a lighter colour than the foreign ones. Thefe two are often from their colour confounded with the liver-colour- ed marcafite. Sc 6 t. cliii. SECT. CCLVIL, 2, With the acid of vitriol, Niccdum addo vitrioli miner alifatum. This is of a beautiful green colour, and may be extradled out of the nickel ochre, (Se6t. cclv.) or efflorefcence of the Kup- fernickel. . SECT. CCLVIll; Observations on Nickel. The cobalt, bifmuth, and nickel, are commonly found together in the fame mines, by which it happens, that, when the firft, as the moil ufeful of them all, is to be made into glafs, the adhe- rent nickel, according to its nature, unites with the fulphur. and arfenic, of which fome portion remains after the calcination, and makes with them a regule. When thefe minerals (the fulphur and arfenic)' are in greater quantity than is wanted for the nickel, they likcwife reduce fome part of the calces of the cobalt and bifmuth ; and in this cafe the nickel, as a medium, uniting the other two, otherwife not mifcibie femi-metals, in- corporates them into the fame regule. From hence arifes a difference in the contents of diffe- rent regules j and from this difference people, who have 240 A SYSTEM OF have not fufficient experience, form to tfemfelvcs falfe notions of the' whole compound, and of each part contained in it : For which reafon they chufe rather to retain that definition of the Kupfernickel -which has received its fandlion from the earliefi; authors, than to admit the conclufion to which Mr. Cronftedt’s experiments feem to lead. For my own part, I have found myfelf obliged to follow the opinion of the latter, partly becaufe I am tired with thofe common epithets given to un- known bodies *, fuch as, wild^ refraEiory^ rapaciouSy arfenicaly irreducible^ metallic earthy &c. 6cc. which regard the effedt alone and not its caufe •, and part- ly becaufe I have not, befides the nickel, found any metal or metallic compofition, which 1. Becomes green when calcined. 2. Yields a vitriol, whofe colcothar alfo be- comes green in the fire. 3. So eafily unites with fulphur, and forms with it a regule of fuch a peculiar nature, as the nickel does in this circumftance , and that 4. Does not unite with filver, but only adheres or ilicks clofe to it, when they have been melted together. The nickel not having yet been found free from cobalt and iron, is the reafon why it was not dif- covered. This was the cafe alfo with the cobalt. Platina del pinto perhaps, in the fame manner, might for a long time have been mixed in the gold, at certain places, where it is faid to be naturally paler than any where elfe in the world. But the exigence of fuch things cannot any longer be denied, fmce the method is difcovered to get them feparate, and free from heterogeneous fubflances. It indeed would be the fame thing, as if in a country where filver is never found but in the potter’s lead ore, any perfon fhould deny the cxiftence of either cT MINERALOGY. a4t thcfe metals, or infill upon it, that one is pro- duced from the other. It is remarkable, that the precipitates of nickel give a blue colour to the fpirit of fal ammoniac, when they are dilTolvcd in it ; without fiiewing befides any marks of copper, which, however, could not be concealed if there were any ^ for if a faall quantity of copper is melted with the nickel, and kept in a ilrong fire with it, the copper foon feparates, and fcorifies, tinging the glafs hrft of a feddifa brown opaque colour, and, the fire being further forced, it then makes it tranfparent and green, as ufual. There is no dano:er attending: the encreafing the number of the metals. Aftrological influences are now in no repute among the learned, and we have already miore metals than planets within our folar fyflem. It would perhaps be more ufefui to difcover more of thefe metals, than idly to lofe our time in repeating the numberlefs experimients which have been made, in order to difcover the coniliruent parts of the metals already known. In tliis perfuafion, I have avoided to mention any hypothefes about the principles of the metals, tiie proceffes of mercurification, and other things of the like nature, v/ith which, to tell the truth, I have never troubled myfclf. R APPENDIX. 242 A SYSTEM OF \ APPENDIX. SECT. CCLIX. I Have already in the Preface mentioned the rea-' ' fons why the Saxa and FofTils commonly called Petrefadtions, cannot be ranked in a mineral fyftem : And I am almoft perfuaded, that the fame reafon which has prevailed on me, will likewife after mature confideration be approved by others. Mean while, fince thefe bodies, efpecially the lat- ter, occupy fo confiderable a place in moft mine- ral colledlions, and the former muft neceffarily be taken notice of by the miners in the obfervations they make in the fubterranean geography, I would not entirely omit them here, but have tried to put them in fuch an order as may arifwer that purpofe, for which miners and mineralifts pay any regard to them. SECT. CCLX. The FIRST O R D E R» SAXA. PETR I divide thefe into two kinds. I. Compound Saxa, Saxa compcfita^ Are fuch ftones v/hofe particles, confiding of different fubfiances, are fo exactly fitted and joined together, that no empty fpace, or even cement, can be perceived between them ; wdiich feems to indicate, that fome,. if not all, of mineralogy. bf thefe fubftances have been foft at the inftant of their union. 2, Congliitinated flones, Sa!xa co7iglutinata^ Are fuch flones whole particles have been united by fome cementitious fubfcance, which, however, is feldom perceivable, and which often has not been fufficient to fill every fpace between the particles : In this cafe the parti- cles feem to have been liard, w-orn off, and in loole, fingle, unfigured pieces, before they were united. SECT. CCLXr. t. Compound Saxa, Saxa compofita. A. Ophites. Scaly linieilone v/ith kernel or bits of ferpencine flone in it, Saxim compojitum pf/rticuUs calcareis et argillaceis. 1. Kolmord’s marble. It is w'hite and greeUi 2. Serpentina antico^ is white, with round pieces of black freatites in it. This imift not be confounded with the Str-> pentino verde ajitico. Seel, cclxvi. 3. The Harddjio marble. White, with quadrangular pieces of a black Iteatites. 4. Marrnor F ozzevera di Genoua. Dark green marble, v/ith white veins. This kind receives its fine polilli and appearance from the ferpentine ilone. SECT. CCI.XIL B. Slellften or Gcjtcllftein., Samm c om prfi turn par ^ ticulis Guartzejis &' micaceis. I. Of didintt particles, Particulis diJtinbFs. Tliis is ’ found at Garpenberg in the province of Dalarne. It is bkev/ile met 2 44 A SYSTEM OF with in the other mineral mountains of Sweden. In feme of thefe the quartzofe particles predominate, and in others, the micaceous : In the lail cafe it is com- monly Qaty, and eafy to fplit. 2. Of particles which are wrapt up in one another, Particulis qiiartzofis mica con- volutis, a. Whitiih grey, from Morthernberget in Norberke in Dalarne. h. Greenifh, at Salberg in Weftman- land. c. Reddidi, from the parifli of Malung in Dalarne. . - Both thefe kinds of Stellften are for their refiftance to the fire employed in building furnaces ^ but the latter is the beif, becaufe it feems at the fame time to contain a little of a re- fractory clayifh fubflance : It however cracks very foon, if the fiat fide of the flratum, inftcad of the extremity, is turned towards the fire. It is aifo of great ufe in mills, if the other or fellovz-fcone is made of the mill-ftone from Arfunde, Vv^hich is a Saxum of the conglutinated kind, or a coarfe fand-flone. It is lucky for ceconomi- cai purpofes, that the plates of thefe ftones are fo thick, although thereby they are not fo eafily fplit. C. Ncrrka. Murkfien of the Swedes. Saxum compcfiium ?nicd^ quartzo et gra^iato, I Wii-h rlifi-incf- o-nrnpts or ihii'l, Granatis SECT. CCLXIII. a. Light MINERALOGY. 245 Cl, Light grey, from Sclbo in Norway. b. Dark grey, with very fmall garnets, from Qiiarnberget in the parifn of So- derli in the province of Jemteland. c. Dark grey, with priimaticai, radia* ted, or fibrous cockle or Hiirl, from the village of Handol, in the parifn of Are in Jemteland. 2. With kernels of garnet ftone, Partial- Us granatinis indeteyminatis. Of pale red garnet flone, from Stoll- berget in Norberke in Dalarne. The fiidl of this kind, whofe flaty ftrata makes it commonly eafy to be iplit, is employed for mill-iLones, which without difficulty difdnguifh themfelves for that purpofe, if fand is firfl ground with them, becaufe the fand v/ears away the micaceous parti- cles on the furfaces, and leaves the garnets prominent, which renders the ttone fitter for grinding the corn. SECT. CCLXIV. D. The Whetftone, Cos. Saxtm ccynpofitiim mica,, o^uartzo., et forfan argilld martiali in noji- nuUis fpe debus. 1. Of coarfe particles, Particidis. diftindis. a. White, from Y/anga in thg province of Skone. b. Light grey, from Tellemarken in Norway. 2. Of fine particles, Partiadis miner il us. a. Liver brown colour, from Sclbo in Norway. 3 h. Elackifli •Jj#' A SYSTEM OF h. Blackifh grey, from Lerwik at Hclle^ fors in Weftmanland, and from Co- logne in Germany. c. Light grey, from Hellefors in Weft^ manland. d. Black. The table flate, or that kind ufed for large tables and for fchool- fiates. The naked eye, and the magnify- ing glafs much better, difcovers the micaceous particles in this kind to be as it were twilled in one another ; fome clay feems likewife to enter into the compofition : However, it cannot yet be certainly alferted that it is real mica which has that appearance in this kind. . Of very minute and clofeiy combined particles, Cos particulis conftans impalpa- bilihus durus. The Turky (lone. This is of an olive colour, and feems 'to be the fmeft mixture of the firft fpe- cies of this genus. It is found in loofe ftones at Biorkfl^oginas in the parifli of Hellefors in Weftmanland, though not perfe6lly free from crofs veins of quartz, which alv/ays are in the furface of the rock, and fpoil the whetftones. It is alfo faid to be found in Tellemarken iq Norway. The beft of this fort come from the Levant, and are pretty dear. The whetfone kinds, when they fplit eafily, and in thin plates, are very ft tq cover houfes with, though moft of thera fire not ukd for that purpofe. SECT, ^IINERALOGY. 24; SECT. CCLXV. E, The Eelgflen of the Swedes. La-pis olla- ris. Sax urn compofitum fteatite et micd. a. Light grey, from Fahlun, and alfo Byxberget at Norberke. h. Whitifh yellow, from Sikfioberget in Norberke. c. Dark grey, from Riddarflryttan. ' d. Dark green, from Salvifto in the pariih of Tamela in Finland, This is employed with great advan- tage to build fire-piaces and furnaces, &c. and when it is ilaty, the extremi- ties of the ftrata mull be turned towards the fire. SECT. CCLXVI. F. Porphyry, Porphyritcs, Ttalorum. Pcrfido. Saxim compofmm jafpide et feltfpato^ i?itei> dum micd et bafalte. a. Its colour is green, with light green feltfpat, Serpentina verde antico. It is faid to have been brought from Egypt to Rome, from which latter place the fpecimens of it now come. Deep red, with white feltfpat, from v Italy, and Egern in Norv/ay. c, Black, v/ith v;hite and red feltfpat, from Klitten, in the parifii of Eifdalen in Da- larne. d, Reddifn brov/n, with lie^lit-rcd and wTite feltfpat, from Flykieberget in Eif- dalen, and Guilavftrom, in the parifii of Goiborn in the province of Wcrmeland. R 4 e. Dark 243 A SYSTEM OF e. Dark grey, with white grains of feltfpat alfo, from Guflavsftroin. Many varieties of this kind, in regard ' . to colour, are found in form of nodules or loofe ftones in Sweden ; but I have only mentioned the hardeft and hneft of thofe which are found in the rocks ; becaufe, befides thefe, there are coarfe porphy- ries found, which fcarce 'admit of any poiiili. The dark red porphyry has been mod employed for ornaments in build- ing: yet it is not the only one known by the name of Porjido^ the Italians apply- ing the lame name alfo to the black kind. SECT. CCLXVII. G. The Trapp of the Swedes. Saxum compcfi- turn jafpide martiali 7}2olli^ feu argilld tiali indurat^^ et This kind of ftone fometimes conditutes or forms whole mountains-, as, for example, the mountain called Kunneberg, in the province cf Weftergottland, and at Dram- nien in Norway-, but it is oftener found in form of veins in mountains of another kind, running commonly in a ferpentine manner, contrary or acrols to the direction of the rock itfelf. It is not homogeneous, as may be plainly feen at thofe places where it is not preffed clofe together j but where it is prelied clofe, it Teems to be perfectly free from heterogeneous fiib- fbances. When this kind is very coarfe, it is inreiTperfed with feltfpat -, but it is net known if the finer forts likewife contain any MINERALOGY. 249 any of it. Eefides this, there are alfo fomc fibrous particles in it, and fomething that rel'embles a calcareous fpar: This however does not ferment with acids, but melts as eafy as the ffone itfelf, which becomes a black folid glafs in the fire. By calcina- tion it becomes red, and yields in allays 12 or more per cent, of iron. No other fort of ore is to be found in it, unlefs now and then fomewhat merely fuperficial lies in its mrures i for this Hone is commonly, even to a great depth in the rock, cracked in acute angles, or in form of large rhomboidal dice. It is employed at the glafs-houfes, and added to the compofition of which bottles are made. By the Germans it is called Schwach or Schwartsftein\ at the Swediili glafs- Vvorks, ^'rappjkiol^ "TegelJkiGl^ or Swartjkiol ; and at Jarliberg in Norway, Blaheft. In the air it decays a little, . leaving a powder of a brown colour ^ it cracks commonly in the fire, and becomes reddilh brown if made red hot. It is found 1. Of coarfe chaliy particles, Parlictdis rad- jorikis accrofis. a. Bark grey, from the top of Kinne- kulle in the province of Weflergott- larvJ. h. Elack, from Stallberget at Offerfilf- verberget in the province of Dalarne. 2. Coarle-grained, ParticuUs major thus gi’ a- niilcith. d. Dark grey, from the uppermofi: dra- tum at Hunneberg in V/eftergottland. b, Reddifn, from Bragnas in Norway. f. Deep brown, from Gello in Norv/ay. 3. Of A SYSTEM OF 250 3. Of fine imperceptible particles. Parti- cults impalpabilibus, a. Black. The Touchftone, Lapis Ly-^ dius, from Salberg mine, Hellefors, Weflerfilfverberget, and Norberg in Weftmanland, and Ofterfilfverberget in Dalarne, &c. Blueifh, from Ofterfilfverberget. r. Grey, from Dalwik in the parifh of Sorberke in Dalarne. i, Reddifh, fromDalftugun in the parifli of Rettwik in Dalarne SECT. CCLXVIII. //. Amygdaloides. Sa^cum baji jafpided martiali^ cum jragmentis fpati calcarei et ferpentiniy ji- gurd emptied “f. It is a martial jafper, in which elliptical kernels of calcareous fpar and I'erpentine- ftone are included. a. Red, with kernek of white llmeftone, and of a green fteatites, from Gello and Gullo in Norway, and the Hartz in Ger- many. This is of a particular appearance, and when calcined is attracted by the loadftone ; it decays pretty much in the air, and has fome affinity with the Trapp, (Seel;, cclxvii.) and alfo with the Por- phyry (Sed. cclxvi.). There are fome- * The black variety (3. e, flate-kernels andfhells, from Gragruf- van at Boda in Rettwik, and in Da- larne. c* Yellow or marcafitical copper ore, with fmall pebbles. SECT. CCLXXVIII. 2. Of fmaller pieces, Granulis lapidtm et minerarum. a. Potters lead ore with a qnartzofe fand, from Eiffelsfeldt near Cologn in Germany. I, Mountain green with fand, from Si- beria. €, Cobalt ore with fand. d. Martial ochre with fand SECT. CCLXXIX. O B s E R V A r I o N s on the S a x a or S t o n e s,. Befides the advantages which may accrue to ceconomy by a perfect knowledge of the Saxa, the miners or fubterranean geographers exped alfo * The Miner Arenacert or Sand- ores, cannot reafonably be feparated from the fand-ftones, fince they are produced in the fame manner ; befides, when they are poor in yield, they are alfo employed to the fame purpofe, bccaufe it is not eafy to fmelt the metal out of them. The fand-ores, befides, cannot be ranked in a mineral fyilem as feparate fpecies of cres, be- caiife they would then be arranged with refpeft to the kind of flone in which the ore occurs, and not the ore itfelf, which cafe cannot be admitted liere. It might be urged, that ores,, mixed with the ftones of the very load,, and' not in form of fand-ores, ougiit as well as them to be ranked among the com- pound (axa but in that cafe there would be no end of fpecies, nor could they ever be reduced into any order. another MINERALOGY. 259 another future benefit from it, viz. that of con- eluding, from many obfervations^ if all the Saxa are to be equally confidered; for example, if in fome of them veins or ftrata of ores may be expe6t- ed, and if thofe are only of certain kinds ; if others are every where found deftitute of any ore whatfo- ever ; if, and which of them are fit to form coats on the furface of the rock, which covers other kind of {tones, and alfo veins and flrata of ores, &c. If no general rules are to be deduced from fuch obfervations, there is a probability, at leait, to gain fome inlights that may be particular to certain countries j and this opinion is already in fome places confirmed by experience. Hence it may be concluded, how neceffary it is to communicate all fuch obfervations whicli, for the above-men- tioned purpofes, ought to be made over the whole globe, and to agree on fixing certain names on the Sa:xa^ in order to avoid too great a prolixity in their deferiptions. It is with this intention I have here, as a trial, given fpecific names to thofe Saxa which are found in this northern country, and which Saxa I know; wifliing at the fame time to be acquaint- ed with a method to diftinguifh them more eafily and to better purpofe. This procedure will be found flill more neceffary and ufeful, as the world fee ms refolved foon to abolifh the fuperfbition of the Hazel Rod or Vir- gula Bivinatoria^ and that we have by means of obfervations already got too much experience to believe, that the flrata of earths and Hones are placed equally and in the fame order and fitnation over the whole earth ; which fome, however, in thefe our times have even endeavoured to prove, while others have made a fecret of it, in order by fome way or other to enrich themlelves. S 2 S E C X. A SYSTEM- OF 260 SECT. CCLXXX. The SECOND ORDER. MINERAL-CHANGES, or the PETREF ACTIONS. ' Mineralia-'Larvata^ vulgo Petr-efa5ia^^ Are mineral bodies in the form of animals or \"egetables, and for this reafon no others belong to^ this order, than fubfl^nce. See the Fhyfica- liche Belujligungen. A fort of folTil ivory is faid. to be found, which has the properties of a clay ; but I do not know if it is rightly ex- amined, SECT, MINERALOGY. 263 SECT. CCLXXXIV. 2. Saline extraneous bodies, or fuch as are pe- netrated by mineral falts. Corpora peregr'ma infalita^ Larvae A. With the vitriol of iron, Vitriolo mart is infalita. 1. Animals. a. Human bodies have been twice found in the mine at Falun in Dalarne ; the laft was kept a good many years in a glafs cafe, but began at lait to moulder and fall to pieces. 2. Vegetables. a. Turf, and L Roots of trees. Thefe are found in water flrongly Impregnated with vitriol ; for inflance, in the moor at Ofterfilfberget in Da- larne. They do not burn with a fame, but only like a coal in a flrong f re *, neither do they decay in the air. SECT. CCLXXXY.. 3. Extraneous bodies penetrated by mineral in- flammable fubftances, or mineral phlogifton. Corpora peregrina phlogijiis mineralibus im- pregnata, A, Penetrated by the fubfliance of pit-coals, Lithantrace impregnata, I. Vegetables, which commonly have been woods, or appertaining to them. a. Fully faturated. Gagas. Jet. S 4 The 64 A SYSTEM OF The jet is of a folid fhining texture* From England, Boferup in Skone^ and the Black Sea. h. Not perfectly fatarated. Mtimia vege* tahilis. Is loofe, refembles umbre, and may be ufed as fuch. From Beferup. SECT. CCLXXXVI. B. Penetrated by rock oil or afphaltum. Cor- pora peregrinapetroleo feu afphalta impregnata^ j. Vegetables. a. Turf, in the province of Skone, . I'he Egyptian mummies cannot have any place here, fince art alone is the cccafion that thofe human bodies have in length of time been pene- trated by the afphaltum, in the fame manner as has happened naturally to the v/ood in pit-coal ftrata (Se£l, cclxxxv. h), S E CX CCLXXXVII. C. Penetrated by fiilphur which has difiblved iron, or by marcafite and pyrites, Pyrite impregnata. Petrefa^a pyritacea, 1. PI u man. a. Bivalves, b. CJnivalvcs, and c. In feels,, in the alum Oate at Andrariim in Skene. E C T; SECT. CCLXXXVIIL Metals in the form of extraneous bodies,^ Larva metallifera. A, Silver, Larva argentifera '. 1. Native. a. On the furfaces of Ihells. EnglandJ 2 , Mineralifed with copper and fulphur. a. Fahlertzorgrey filverore (Sed. clxxi.) in form of ears of corn, &c. and fup- pofed to be vegetables, are found in argillaceous flate at Frankenberg and Tahlitteren in HelTe. SECT. CCLXXXIX. Copper, Larva cuprifera. 1. Copper in form of calx. Cuprum calcU forme corpora peregrina ingrejfum, a. In form of animals, or of parts be- Ipnging to them. I. Ivory, and other bones of the ele- phant. TheTurcoisorTurkyftonei It is of a blueilli green colour, and much valued in the Eaft. At Simore in Languedoc bones of animals are dug, which during the calcination aflume a blue co- lour ; but it is not probable that the blue colour is owing to copper. SECT.' CCXC. 2. Mineralifed copper, which impregnates extraneous bodies. Cuprum miner alifatum corpora peregrina ingrefum* A. With A, With fulphur and iron. The yel- low or marcafitical copper ore that impregnates' I. Animals. a. Shells, from Hagatienns Schurff and Jarlfberg in Norway. Thefe fhells lye upon a loadftone, p. In form of fifh, from Eeifleben, Mansfeld, and Ollerode, in Ger- many. Bf With fulphur and filver. Grey filver ore or Fahlertz, like ears of corn, from the flate quarries in HelTe (Se6t. cclxxxviii.). SECT, CCXCI. C\ Changes into iron, Larv^ feirifer^. 1, Iron in form of calx, which has aflumed the place or the fhape of extraneous bodies, Ferrum calcijorme tcrpcra peregrina ingrejfmn, a, Loofe, Larvae ochrace^e, I. Of vegetables. Roots of trees, from the lake Langelma in Finland : See the Ads of the Swedifh Academy of Sciences for the year 1742. i. Indurated, Larvae h^ematitic^, I, Of vegetables. Wood, from Orbiflau in Bohemia. SECT. CCXCII. 2. Iron mineralifed, alTuming the fiiape of extraneous bodies, Ferrum mimralifatum MINERALOGY. 267 , miner alt fatum corpora peregrina in- greffum. a. Mineralifed with fulphur. Mar- cafite. Larva Pyritacea. cclxxxvii. SECT. CCXCIII. 5. Extraneous bodies decompofing, or in a way of deftrudtion. Corpora peregrina in gradibus deftru^ionis conftderata. Mould, Humus, Turf, L urha, A. From animals. Animal mould. Humus anlmalis. 1 . Shells. Humus conchaceus, 2. Mould of other animals. Humus diver- forum animalium. jS. Vegetable mould, Humus vegetabilis. 1. Turf, Ltirba. a. Solid, and hardening in the air, T urha folida acre indurefcens. Is the bell of this kind to be ufed for fuel, and comes neareft to the pit-coals. often contains a little of the vitriolic acid, h. Lamellated turf, Lurba foliata. This is in the firft degree of deflrudlion. 2. Mould of lakes. Humus lacuflris. This is a black mould which is edulcorated by water. 3. Black mould. Humus ater. This is univerfally known, and covers the furface of that loofe earth in which vegetables thrive beft • All the kinds of mould contain fome of the inflammable fubilance, which has remained in them from the vegetables or animals ; and they are more or lefs black, in proportion as they contain A SYSTEM OF 2&S SECT. CCXGIV. The THIRD ORDER. NATURAL SLAGS, Scorite Vulcanorum, Slags are found in great abundance in many places in the world, not only where volcanos yet exift, but likewife where no fubterrane- ons fire is now known : Yet, according to our opinion, they cannot be produced but by means of fire. Thefe are not properly to be called natu- ral, fince they have marks of violence, and of the laft change that mineral bodies can fuffer without the deftrudlion of the world ; nor are they artificial, according to the univerfally received meaning of this word. When we perhaps in future times by new difcovered means may be able to find out of what fort of earth ftones are compounded, we fiiall {till be forced to flop at the furface of them, and be contented with knowing that they contain a little iron. Mean while I cannot omit them here, fince I have confidered the petrefadlions •, and therefore! will enumerate fome of them, ac- cording to their external marks. contain more or Icfs of this phlogillon. I have ranked them in this place, that they might not be, totally excluded. They sre elfe a ?n€c!ium uniens between all the three kingdoms of mature : And it may reafonably be aflted, if all forts of earth do not in form of very minute particles enter into the compo- sition of vegetables and animals, after which they exill for fome time in form of mould, until the phlogilloii is again Separated. SECT. SECT. CCXCV. A, Iceland agat, Achates ijlandkus fiiger^ It is black, folicl, and of a glafiy texture f but in thin pieces, it is greenifh and femi- tranfparent like glafs bottles, which con- tain much iron. The mod:.- remarkable is* that fuch large folid mafies are found of it, that there is no poffibility of producing the , like in any glafshoufe. It is found in Iceland, and in the Ifland of Afcenfion : The jewellers employ it as an agat, though it is too foft to refift wear. sect: ccxcvl jB. Rhenifh millflone, Lapis mdarb Rhenanusl Is blackifh grey, porous, and perfedUy re- fembles a fort of flag produced by Mount Vefuvius. If I am miflaken in this, I hope that fomebody elfe will deferibe the con^, fliituent parts of this millfhene. SECT. CCXCVIL C. Pumice-llone, Pum€>s, Is very porous and bliftered, in confe- quence of v/hich it is fpecifically very light. It refemblcs that froathy flag which is pro- duced in our iron furnaces. 1. White. 2. Black. The colour of the firfl: is perhaps faded or bleached, becaufe the fecond kind comes in that {late from the labora- tory itfelf, v;z. the volcanos. SECT. 2;o A SYSTEM OF •SECT. CCXCVIII. Z). Pearl flag, Scoria conjlantes glohulis vitrels conglomeratis. Is compounded of white and greenifli glafs particles, which feem to have been conglutinated while yet foft, or in fufion. Found on the Ifle of Afcenfion, SECT. CCXCIX. iZ. Slag-fand or allies, Scoria pulveruknta, Cineres Vulcanorum. This is thrown forth of the volcanos in form^ of larger or fmaller grains. It may perhaps be the principle of the Terra Puz- zolana (Se6l. ccix. becaufe fuch an earth is faid at this time to cover the ruins of Herculaneum near Naples, which hiftory informs us was deftroyed by a volcano during an earthquake. SECT. CCC, Observations on the preceding Slags. It feems as if we could not go any farther in the arrangement of bodies belonging to the mineral kingdom, than to the black mould (Se6t. ccxciii.) and the flags, as being the extremes. However, if thel'e flags likewife decay, and in length of time become an earth, which poflibly may happen ; there is then a new fubftance be- yond them, which however may return back and circulate again in fome known form. It is ob- vious how the old heaps of flags' from the iron furnaces MINERALOGY. 271 f ’ ' ' ’ ’’ . r furnaces decay, and at laft produce vegetables, which cannot be afcribed to a black mould alone carried thither by the wind. The fame may per- haps happen with the natural flags in the open air ; but we do not know if it is fo, nor what different forms this and every other earth which circulates in animals and vegetables further afllimes : How* ever, in fuch circumfliances, as their particles be- come or are already very minute, and mofl: part of the phlogiflon becomes volatile, when a6led upon by heat or fire, it fee ms probable, that, by a flow, feparation of the phlogiflon, or a union by means of falts, this earth is moil apt to become a* clay, provided it is not by any previous revolution laid in fuch places as to change it into flate, pit-coal, &c. If at any time it fhould happen that a volcano fliould burfl out of a mountain, whofe flrata wc knew before, we could at leafl imagine fome rea- fonsfor this wonderful effed: : However, the learned would neverthelefs, perhaps, want fome knowdedge about the fubllances of the flrata, and the manner of their fonuation ; fince in this circumflance water and other obflacles have hindered people too much from making the due obfervations thereon. Meanv/hiie, the more we confider, on the one part, all the modifications and alterations the earths undergo by means of fire and water, by the free or impeded accefs of the air, by the volatility and attraction of the acid falts, whereby are pro- duced folution and hardening, compofltion and feparation •, and, on the other part, reflefl on the fliortnefs of a man’s life, perhaps alfo dedicated to other bufmefs, on the difficulty of obferving the fu brerraneous effefls, and on feveral other things, which prevent the making difcoveries, by whicli we might find out forne eafier means to attain true knowledge 272 ;a system^ &€. knowledge by judicious experiments • the more we fhall find, what is wanted to forni rhineral fyftems, and for this reafon be apt to excufe the faults of thofe which have been hitherto publifiied. From thofe, who of themfelves are fufceptible of thefe fentiments, I fuffer with pleafure that judgment, which I am myfelf ready to pronounce upon this ElTay, ^ranfeat cum ceteris^ e I N 1 S,’ 4 D E S C R I P- © E S C R I P T I O N and USE OT A Mineralogical Pocket Laboratory AND ESPECIALLY THE USE of the ,B L O W-P I P E IN MINERALOGY. By GUSTAV von ENGESTROM, \ T • n . ‘1 >1 y. Z U h;;,' 0.1 T ^ I Z 'O ^ A 1 ■ i vio^r.iofj ■: 1 :‘o:jao‘I r aii^ V <• 3 i: T Y a J A \ Q H q s C \ H A I T-W O vl d cili !*> 2 U .T O G J A A 3. TI I Jv: »• . * ■ .'vl O T 0 a G VI i 0 7 VAT V •■a • * '±A£k^' I , il^^. V- ' £ 175 3 / DESCRIPTION O F A Mineralogical Pocket Laboratory, &c. SECT. I. T Hx\T Science which teaches us the proper- ties of mineral bodies, and by which we learn how to charadterize, diiLinguifh, and clafs them into a proper order, is called Minera-- logy. This, like all other fciences, when rightly cultivated, and employed to its proper end, (the Public Good) furnillies us with many ufefui dif- cpyeries, in proportion as it increafes. SECT. 11. Mineralogy has been fludied for feveral ages, yet its progrefs has been very (low. Some learned men have, indeed, endeavoured to bring it into home fyftematical order : But as the pallion for only coliedling minerals and foflils has ilill predominated over that of diving into the nature of the fubjedls themfelves, they have for the moft part met with but very little fuccefs. Thofe who were mere Colle^ors^ being fuperior in number to the fcicntifical cnes^ or Mineralifis^ and T 2 having f 176 ] having more opportunities of getting new fpeci- mens, were moil of them not fo communicative to ^he latter as they ought to have been. Some of thefe, fond of the number, were wholly taken up In gathering together immenfe heaps of things, feeming almoft refoived to get the whole of Nature into their cabinets, Vv^ithout having regard to any true order ; while others, purpofing to corrcdt this inconveniency, would pretend to forne in- terior knowledge, as if that had been a confe- quence of their colleftion ; and by that fell into another rdll greater extravagancy. All this certainly hindered the mineraliihs from improving much in the fcience ; but, happily, thofe times are pall. The w^orld is grown more reaibnable at prefent, and Mineralogy feems more and more to be encouraged. The great utility of the mineral bodies already known, promifes us a greater advantage from the iludy of this fcience, than only the pleafure of cok lefling. But, in order to come at this advantage, we ought to fearch into the very principles of thefe bodies, that we may be certain of not de- riving ourfelves in our judgment about phem. SECT. m. As the principal end of cultivating Mineralogp. is to find out the ceconomical ufe of the minerals, it is necefiary to know every occurrent mineral body in regard to all its ejfiedls ; from them to determine the bell ufe it might be put to. A Syftem of Mineralogy thus founded on the cffedts pf its llibjedls, mull be more fcientificai, fince it always has in view that real point, tbeir application to Common Life And fince it is natural to the human mind to adapt every thing to its own ad- ‘ ' vantage^ i 177 ] Vantage, as far as pofTible, fuch a fyliem mull: Be more generally received, and at the fame time the eafier underftood, as it includes the mineral bodies in a Ids number of clalTcs, orders, &c. by which the memory is not fo much clogged, as if only their furfaces had been defcribed. . SECT. IV. This granted, let us confider what difliciiltles there are to be met with in examining mmerai bodies. Thefe are often like one another as to their external appearances, although their conftituent parts are quite ditferent, and confequently make them ufe- ful in different ways : Moil part of them ought alfo to be changed from their natural form, and even often diffolved, before they can be made any ufe of. Their figure and colour, or, in flmrt, their furfaces, are therefore not folely to be depended upon ; we mufc penetrate into them ; and ,they mu ft be decompounded according to the princi- ples of chemiftry. SECT. V. By examining the mineral kingdom in this man- ner, we may now and then find the fubjcdls of our experiments (if even nearly the fame) to differ in fome of their effeds, which is particularly owing to the dlihculty of juftly determinlrig the degrees of the fire employed ; a dlMiculty not yet re- moved, but v/hich, however, ought not to hinder us from going as far as pohibiy we can, fince we find by.pradlice, that fuch obftacles often are remedied by repeated experiments; and of thefe we never can make too many, if judicioufiy per- formed. T 3 SEC [ 178 ] SECT. VI. This way of fludying Mineralogy has al- ready fome time ago been entered upon ; but Mr. Pott, at Berlin, has brought it to a greater perfedion ; and after him Mr. Cronfledt, in Swe- den, has extended it yet farther, fubmitting every mineral body, that came to his hands, to chemical experiments •, in confequence of which he after- wards publiilied his EJfay tozvards a Syfiem sf Mineralogy. SECT. YIL Thus the greatefl obflacle is removed; the beft method to learn Mineralogy is laid open, in fol- lowing w*hich w’e are enabled to render this Science more and more perfed. To obtain this end, che- mical experiments are without doubt neceffary ; but as a ^reat deal of the mineral kingdom has already been examined in this manner, we do n^t want to repeat all thofe experiments in their whole extent, unlefs fome new and particular phoeno- mena fhould difcover themfelves in thofe things v/e are examining ; elfe the tedioufnefs of thofe procefies might difcourage fome from going far- ther, and take up much of the time of others, that might be better employed. An eafier way may therefore be made ufe of, which even for the moll part is fufficient, and which though made in miniature, yet is as fcientiRcal as the common manner of proceeding in the laboratories, fince it imitates that, and is founded upon the fame prin- ciples. This con fills in a method of makmg expert- ments upon a piece of charcoal with the concentrated fame of a candle blown through a Blow-pipe. The heat C 179 ] heat occafioned by this, is very intenfe, and the mineral bodies may here be burnt, calcined, melo- ed^ or fcorified, &c. as well as in any great works, SECT. VIII. The Blov/-pipe is in common ufe among jewel- lers, goldfmiths, fome glafs- blowers, &c. and has even been ufed a little by the chemifts and mine- ralifts; but, to the bed of my knowledge, Mr^ Cronftedt is the firft who made luch an improve- ment in its ufe, as to be employed in examining all mineral bodies. This gentleman invented fome other apparatus^ neceffary in making the expe- riments, to go with the Blow- pipe, which all together make a neat little cafe, that, for its facility of being carried in the pockety particularly on travels, might be called 3.^ Pccket-Laho7'atory: And as neither this Pocket Laboratory, nor even the extenfive ufe of the Blow-pipe, is yet generally known, I think it will not be altogether uielefs, to give a defcription of it. SECT. IX, The Blow-pipe is reprefented in its true figure and fize. Tab. i, fig. i. The globe a is hollow, and made on purpofe to condenle the vapours, which alw^ays happen to be in the Biow^-pipe when it has been ufed fome time : If this globe was not there, the vapours would go diiccdly with the wind out into the fiame, and w^ould thereby cool the alTay. The hole in the fmall end Ik through which the wind comes out, ought not to be larger than the fize of the fined wire. This hole may now and then be dopped up v/ith Ibmcthing coming T 4 into [ r8o ] into it, wliidi hinders the force of the wind’*, otit' ought therefore to have a piece of the findl wire,, to clear it with when required : And, in order to have this wire the better at hand, it may be faften- ed round the Blow-pipe, in fuch a manner as is’ reprefented in lig. i. c is the wire, faftened round the Blow-pipe at d. and afterwards drawn through’ 3. fmall hole at e, made in the ring /. to keep it more fteady. SECT. X. The Blow-pipe is compounded of two parts,? Tab. I. fig. 2 . and and this for the facility both* of making, carrying it along, and cleaning it on? the infide when it is wanted. In order to determine the moft convenient pro* portions of this inflrument, feveral Blow-pipes of different fizes, both bigger and fmaller, have been’ tried : The former have required too much wind, and the latter being too foon' filled with the wind, have returned it back again upon the lungs : Both thefe circumftances hindered greatly the ex- periments, and are perhaps even prejudicial to the- health. This fize, fig. i, is found to anfwer belt; and though the hole mull be as fmall as before men- tioned (Se6t. ix.) yet the fides of the pipe at the point muft not be thinner, nor the point narrower than here reprefented, elfe it will be too weak,, and will not give fo good a flame. It is alfo to be obferved, that the canal throughout the pipe, but particularly the hole at the fmall end, mufl: be made very hnooth, lb that there are no inequalities in it *, the wind would elfe be divided, and confe- quentiy the flame made double. That Blow-pipe is to be reckqned the bed, through which can be formed the longefl; and moft pointed flame from oft a common- Tai. II . [ ] common-fized candle. Thefe Blow-pipes are com- monly made of brafs or filver.^ SECT. XL The whole Pocket-Laboratory is reprefented? Tab. II. fig. I, with the cafe, exadly of the form,’ bignefs, and proportions as that I make ufe of myfelf : What alterations there may be wanted are eafily found out by pradlice. c h are the two parts of which the Blow-pipe confifts, and which are already deferibed. a, a wax-candle, defiined to be made ufe of, particularly in trawels, when no other candle is to' be had. b. a pair of nippers, (Kofntong) to handle fo much the eafier the things which are to be tried, becaufe they are generally fmail particles : This ferves alfo to touch and turn the fubjeds during the experiments, when they are hot, and could not be well handled with the fingers. d, e. /. are three phials, to put the required fluxes in, viz. Borax, the Mineral Alcali (Sal Sod ^ and fal fufihile rAicrocofmiciim. g, a hammer, to break any part of a fione,, when it is to be tried : This ferves alfo to pound things with. i. A magnifying glafs, neceffary when the ob- jeds are too Imall to be leen by the naked eye. k, a flee], to ilrike fire, by which the hardnefs or foftnefs of the bodies is tried. /. a loadiione, to dilcover the prefence of iron. m. a file, wherewith to diiLinguiih natural gems, quartz-crifials, and artificial or coloured glaflcs-- from one another. n. a thin fqnare plate inadeof untempered ficeik filed flat on one fide, to pound things upon, and poiifiied [ i 82 ] poliflied on the other fide, to hammer metals upon. Above this fteel plate n, and within the circle, drawn round about it, is the place for a candle- llick. This candleftick is fhewn in plan, fig. 2, and in profile, fig 3, Tab. ll. It confifts of a round brafs plate ; the point a, and the ring h. round it, is inftead of the focket in another can- dleftick, which would here take up too much room. Fig. 4, (Tab. II.) is a thin iron ring, a fixth part of an inch high ; within this ring the pounding and grinding of the things upon the fteel plate fig. i, n, is performed, that they may not be loft. In packing up, this ring is to be put loofe upon the candleftick j and, as it is lower than the point of this, it does not take up much room in the cafe. The whole cafe, thus made, with all the inftru- ments in it, as I have defcribed them, is no more than one and an eighth part of an inch high, and confeque a fourth of its original bulk, being exadly of the lame fize with the above. Jt contains two fmall matraffes [Tab. I. fig. 4. j for making folucions ; a trough [Tab. I. fig. 5.] for wafhing the ore after its being pounded ; and the three fmall bottlei* with double Hoppers, for the nitrous^ muriatic^ and ‘vitriolic Acids, h.ave their refpedtive initials cut on each. Both thefe Pocket-Laboratories, made in the neateH manner by an ingenious artift, may be had ready furnifhed with the pureil: acid-, &c at the General Oj^ice of Bufnefsy Arts and Irade, opened for the piefent at No. 98, Wood-Street, Chcapfide, and only there, for very reafonable prices. A A kind of Trapp is found of that hardnefs,' in which no particles of Feltfpat are to be feen.* Coloured glafles refemble true gems ; but as they are very foft in proportion to thefe, they are eafily difcovered by the means of the file : The common quartz-cryftals are harder than coloured glaffes,- but fofter than the gems. The loadftone difcovers the prefence of iron, when it is not mixed in too fmall a quantity in the flone, and often before the ftone is roafted. Some kinds of Hamatitesi and particularly the C(srulefcens^ is very like fome other iron ores, but dillinguifhes itfelf from thefe by a red colour, when pounded, the others giving a blackifh powder, and fo forth. SECT. XIII. To manage the Blow-pipe with eafe requires fome pradtice. A beginner blows generally too’ ftrongly, which forces him to take breath very often, and then he draws the flame at the fame time along into the Blow-pipe : This is trouble- fome for himfelf, and the experiment cools always ^ a little at the fame time. But the more expe- rienced can breathe in, through the nofe, and yet- at the fame time blow through the pipe, whereby a coijftant flame from the candle is kept up. The whole art confifts in conftantly taking in air through the nofe, and with the tongue moderat- ing its blowing out; fo that the tongue performs nearly the office of a fucker in a pump ; or rather, the adlion of the nofe, lungs, and mouth, refem- bles here the adlion of bellows with double parti- tions. In this manner there is no need of blowing violently, but only with a moderate and equal force, and thus the breath can never fail the ope- rator. The only inconveniency attending, is, that [ 185 1 . the lips grow weak or tired, after having continued to blow for a while in one ftrain *, but they foon recover their former ftrength, by ceafing to blow for fome minutes. SECT. XIV. The candle ufed for this purpofe (Sedl. vii.) ought to be fn tiffed often, but fo, that the top of the wick may retain fome fat in it, becaufe the fame is not hot enough when the wick is almoft burnt to afhes *, but only the top mu ft be fnuffed off, becaufe a low wick gives too fmall a flame. The blue flame is the hotteft ; this ought therefore to be forced out when a great heat is required, and only the point of the flame muft be direded upon the fubjed which is to be allayed. SECT. XV. The piece of charcoal made ufe of in thefe ex- periments (Secft. vii.), muft not be'of a difpofitioq to crack. If this fhould happen, it muft gradually be heated until it does not crack any more, before any aflfay is made upon it. If this is not obferved, but the affay made immediately with a ftrong flame, fmall pieces of it will fplit off in the facet and eyes of the aflayer, and often thrown along with them the matter that was to be affayed. Charcoal which is too much burnt confumes too quick during the experiment, leaving fmall holes in it, wherein the matter to be tried may be loft: And charcoal that is burnt too little catches fiamq from the candle, burning by itfeif like a piece of 'wqodj which likewife hinders tlie procefs. SECT. f 186 3 SECT. XVI. Of thofe things that are to be aflayed, only a fmall piece mull be broke off for that purpofe, not bigger than that the flame of the candle (Se6t. vii. xiv.) may be able to act upon it at once, if re- quired *, which is fometimes neceflary *, for in- ilance, when the matter requires to be made red hot throughout. A piece of about an eighth part of an inch fquare is reckoned of a mioderate iize, and fittefl for experiments ; feldom more, but rather lefs. This proportion is only mientioned as a diredion in regard to the quantity, the figure being of no confequence at all, a piece broice off from a ftone feldom or never happening to be fquare. But here it is to be obferved, that the piece ought to be broke as thin as poflible, at leafi: the edges : The advantage thereof is eafily feen, the fire having then more influence upon the fubjedf, and the experiment being quicker made. This is particularly neceflary to be ob- ferved when fuch Hones are to be allayed, which although in fome refpedts fufible by themlelves, vet refift confiderably the afUon of the fire ; be- caufe they may by thefe means be brought into fufion, at leafi at their edges, which elfe would have been very difficult if the piece had been thick. SECT, XVII. Some of the mineral bodies are very difficult to keep Heady upon the charcoal during the experi- ment, before they are made red hot ; becaufe, as foon as the flame begins to adt upon them, they fplit afunder with violence, and difperfe. Such often [ 18; ] ©ften are thofe which are of a foft confiftence, or a particular figure, and which preferve the fame figure in however minute particles they are broke •, for inftance, the Calcareoub Spar, the Sparry Gypfum, Sparry Fluor, White Sparry Lead-ore, the Potters Ore, (Galena tejfellat a) the Tcfiellated Mock-lead or Blende, &c. even all the common fluors which have no determinate figure, and moil of the Mi^ Tier a metallorum calciformes cryftallifat^e or fpatof^ : All thefe are not fo compa(S: as common hard ftones ; and therefore, when the flame is imme- diately pufhed at them, the heat forces iti'elf quick- ly through and into their clefts or pores, and caufes this violent expanfion and diiperfion. Many of the clays are like wife apt to crack in the fire, which may be for the moll part afcribed to the humidity, of which they always retain a portion. Befides thefe enumerated, there may be found now and then other mineral bodies cf the fame nature j but it is, however, not fo common. The only way of preventing this inconveniency, is to heat the body as flowly as poffible. It is bed, firfl: of all, to heat that place of the char- coal, where the piece is intended to be put on, and afterwards lay it thereon ; a little crackling will then enfue, but commonly of no great confe- quence. After that, the flame is to be blown very flowly towards it, in the beginning not di- redtly upon, but fomewhat above it, and fo ap- proaching nearer and nearer with the flame until it becomes red hot. This will do for the moil part^ but there are neverthelefs feme, v/hich, norwith- flanding all thefe precautions, it is alnuoft impofli- ble to keep on the charcoal. Thus the Fluors are generally the moil difficult ; and as one of their principal charadters is difeovered by their efteds in the flrey?fr fe^ (Seel, xviii. 6.) they ought nc- ceffiarily t iS8 } .ee/Tarily to be tried that way. To this purpofe it h bed to make a little hole in the charcoal to put the Fluor in, and then to put another piece of charcoal as a covering upon this, leaving only a fmall opening for the flame to come m at, and to look at the proof. As this (tone will neverthelefs moflly fplit and fly about, a larger piece thereof than is before-mentioned, (Sed. xvi.) mufl; be taken, in order to have at lead fomething of it left. But if the experiment is to be made upon a ftone whofe effedts one does not want to fee in the fire per fe^ but rather with fluxes, then a piece of it ought to be forced down into melted borax, (Sedt. xxiii.) when always fome part of it will re- main in the borax, notwithftanding the greateft part may fometimes fly away by cracking. SECT. XVIIL As the ftones undergo great alterations when expofed to the fire by themfelves, whereby fome of their charadteriftics, and often the moft princi- pal, are difcovered, they ought firft to be tried that way ; obferving what has been faid before .concerning the quantity of the matter, diredlion of the fire, &c. The following effedls are generally the refults of this experiment, viz. I. Calcareous earth or {lone, when it is pure, does never melt by itfelf, but becomes white and friable, fo as to break freely between the fingers ; and, if fuffered to cool, and then mixed with water, it becomies hot, juft as common quick lime. As in thefe experiments only very fmall pieces are ufed, (Sedl. xvi.) this laft effedl is bed difcovered '^y putting the proof on the outfide of the hand, with a drop of v;ater to in vrhen indantly a very quick E 2S9 3 iquick heat is felt on the fldn. When the calca- reous fubftance is mixed with the X'itriolic acid, as in the gypfum ; or with a clay, as in the marie ; it commonly melts by itfeif; yet more or lefs diffi- cult in proportion to the differences of the mix- tures : The gypfum produces generally a white, and the marie a grey gials or flag. When there is any iron in it, as in white iron ore, it becomes dark, and fometimes quite black, &c. 2. The Siliceae never melt alone, but become generally more brittle after being burnt : Such of them as are coloured become colouflefs, and the fooner when it does not arife from any contained metal •, for inllance, the Topazes, Amethiflis, &c. ibme of the precious ftones, however, excepted* And fuch as are mixed with a quantity of iron, grow dark in the fire, as Ibme of the Jafpers, &c. 3. The Garnet-kind melt always into a black, flag, and that fonietimes fo eafy, that it may be brought into a round globule upon the charcoal. 4. The Argillacete, when pure, never melt, but become white and hard : The fame efiefts follow when they are mixed with phlogifion ; for inftance, the Soap-rock is eafily cut with the knife*, but, being burnt, it cuts gials, and would ilrike fire with the fteel, if as large a piece, as is neceffary for that purpofe, could be tried in this way. The Soap-rocks are fometimes found of a dark brown and nearly black colour, but become for all that quite v/hite in the fire, as a piece of China ware : How^ever, care muft be taken nor to pufli the fiaine from the top of the wick, there being for the moil: part a footy fmoke, which com- monly will darken all that it touches ; and if this is not obferved, a mi flake in tlie experiment might eanly happen : But if it is mixed with iron, a.s it is fometimes found, it does not fo eafiiy part vfith U its [ 290 T ks dark colour. The Argillacea^, when* mixecS wkh lime, melt by themfelvcs, as above-men- tioned (i). When mixed with iron, as in the Boles, they grov/ dark or black ; and if the iron iS’ not in too great a quantity, they melt alone into; a dark flag ^ the lame happens, when they arc mixed' with iron and a little of the vitriolic acid, as in the common clay, &c. .5. The Micacere and Afbeftinae become fome- what hard and brittle in the fire, and are more or lefs refradory, though they give^ fome marks of fu Ability. 6. The Fluore.s difcover one of their chief cha- raderiftics by giving a light, like Phofphorus,, in the dark, when they are flowdy heated ; but lofe this property, as well as their colour, as fooa as they are made red hot: They commonly melt in the fire into a white opaque flag, though: fome of them not very eafily. 7. Some forts of the Zeolites,,, a {lone lately dif- ccvered, melt eaflly and foam in the fire, fome- times nearly as much as Borax, and become a frothy flag, &c. 8. A great many of thofe mineral bodies which are impregnated with iron, as the Boles, and fome of the White Iron Ores, See, as well as fome of the other iron ores, viz. the Bloodflone, are not attraded by the loadilone before they have beeir thoroughly roafled. Sec, A further digrefllon upon thefe effeds is un- necefiary here, their enumeration belonging more properly to the Mineralogy j it is fufiicient only to have mentioned the moil common, in order the better to explain the experiments that are made, with the Blov/-pipe. SEC T. [ 251 j SECt. XlXi After the mineral bodies have been tried In th<^ iirc by themfelves, they ought to be melted with fluxes, to find out if they can be dilfolved or not^ and Ibme other phoenomena attending this opera- tion. To this purpofe three different kinds of lalts are ufed as duxes, viz. Sal Sodce^ Borax^ and Sal fiifible microcofniicum (Seft. xi), SECT; XX. The Sal Sod:e is a rnineral alcdi well known* prepared from the herb Kali or Saltwort; this fa!c is however not much ufed in thefe fmall experi- ments, its effeds upon the charcoal rendering it, for the mod parr, unfit for it ; becaufe, as loon as tlie flame begins to ad upon it, it melts inflantly, and is almofl; wholly attraded by the charcoaL When this fait is employed to make any experi- ment, but a very little quantity thereof is wanted at once, viz. about the cubical contents of an eighth part gf an inch, more or lefs : This i . laid upon the charcoal, and tiie flame bio\tn on it with the Blow-pipe; but as this fait commonly is in form of a powder, it is ncvceflary to go ort very foftly, that the force cf the flame may nor difperle the minute particles of the fair. As fbon as it begins to mck it runs along on the charcoal ai- moil as melted rallov/, and when cold, it is a glaffy matter of an opaque dull colour fpread on the coal. The moment it is melted the rtiatter which is to be tried ought to be put into itj b> caufe otherwife the greateft part of the fait wi’l be Ibaked into the charcoal, and too little of it left for the intended purpofe ; the flame ought *U 2 then [ 292 ]’ then to be diredted on the matter itfelf, and if the fait fpreads too much about, leaving the proof almoft alone, it may be brought to it again by blowing the flame on its extremities, and diredt- ing it towards the fubjed of the experiment.. In the afiays made with this fait, it is true, we* may find if the mineral bodies which are melted, with it have been diflTolved by it or not •, but we cannot tell with any certitude whether this is dono haftily and with force, or gently and flowly*, whether only a lefs or a greater part of the matter has been diflblved; nor can it be well diftinguilhed if the matter has imparted any weak tinfture to the flag *, becaufe this fait always bubbles upon the charcoal during the experiment, nor is it clear, when cool ; fo that fcarce any colour, except it be a very deep one, can be difcovered, although it may fometimes be coloured by the matter that has been tried, SECT. XXI. The other two falts, viz. the Borax, and the Sal fufible microcofmicum, are very well adapted to thefe experiments, becaufe they may by the flame be brought to a clear uncoloured and tranf- parent glafs and as they have no attu'adion to the charcoal, they keep themfelves always upon it in a round globular form. The Sal fufibile mi- crocofmicum is very fcarce, and perhaps not to be met with in the (hops •, it is made of urine : Mr. Margraff has given a ftill, account of its pre- paration in the Memoirs of the Academy of Sciences at Berlin. SECT. [ 293 1 SECT. XXII. ‘The quantity of thefe two falts required for an •experiment is almofb the fame as the Sal Sodae (Sed. XX.); but as thefe falts are crirtalliled, and confequently include a great deal of water, parti- cularly the borax, their bulk is confiderably re- duced when melted, and therefore a little more of thefe may be taken than the before- mentioned quantity. SECT. XXIIL Both thefe falts, (Sed. xxi.) when expofed to the flame of the Blow pipe, bubble very much ‘and foam before they melt to a clear glafs, but more lb the borax, which for the mod part de- pends on the water they contain : And as this would hinder the aflayer to make due obfervations on the pheenomena of the experiment, the fait which is to be ufed, mud fird be brought to a clear glafs, (Sed. xxi.) before it can ferve as a flux; It mud therefore be kept in the fire until it is become fo tranfparent that the cracks in the char- coal may be feen through it. This done, whatfo- ever is to be tried, is put to it, and the fire continued. SECT. XXIV. Here it is to be obferved, that for the aflays ‘ made with any of thefe two fluxes (Sed. xxii .) on mineral bodies, no larger pieces of thefe iTiud be taken, than that altogether they may keep a globular form upon the charcoal ; becaufe then it may be better didinguiflied in what man- gier the flux ads upon the matter during the ex^ U 3 periment : r 29+ ] pcrimcnt : If this is not obfcrved, the flux, com- municating itfdf with every point of the lurface of the mineral body, fpreads all over it, and keeps the form of this lafl:, which commonly is flat, (Sedt. xvl.) and by that means hinders the opera-; tor to obferve all the phoenomena which may hap- pen. Befides, the flux being in too i'mall a quan- tity, in proportion to the body to be tried, is too weak to a6l with all its force upon it. The -befl proportion, therefore, is about a third part of the mineral body to the flux and, as the quan- tity of the flux, mentioned in Seel. xx. xxii. makes a globe of a due fize, in regard to the greatefl heat that is poflible to procure in thefe experi- ments ; the fize of the mineral body, propofed in vSedl. xvi. required \vhen it is to be tried in the nre by itfelf, is too large on this occafion, the third part of it being here almoft fuflicient. SEC T. XXV. The Sal Sodne, as has been faid before, is not of much ufe in thefe experiments •, nor has it any particular qualities in preference to the tw^o lafl mentioned falts, except that it diflblves the Zeo- lites eafier than the Borax and the Sal fufibije mi- crocofnfleum. This lafl: mentioned fait fliev/s almofl: the fame efledls in the fire as the borax, and differs from this in very few circumftances, of which one of the iTiofl principal is, that, when melted with iTian^ranefe, it becomes of a crimfon hue, inftead of a jacinth colour, \vhich borax rakes. This fall is, however, for irs fcarcity, fciil very in life, borax alone being that wnich is com- monlv uied. Vv'henevci a mineral body is melted with any of thefe two lafr iiicntioned falts, in the above [ 29S 3 :above defcribcd manner (Se6l. xxii. et feq.) it is .eafily feen whether it is quickly difTolved, becaufc in that cafe an effervefcence ariles, which lafts till the whole is diflTolved ; or whether this is flowly done, in which cafe few and fmall bubbles only rife from the matiier : Like wife, if it cannot be dillolved at all, becaufe then it is obferved only to turn round in the flux without the lead bubble, and the edges look as fharp as they were before. SECT. XXVL In order further to illuflrate what has been faid about thefe •experiments, i will mention feme indances out of the Mineralogy, concerning the edecds of borax upon the mineral bodies, viz. 1. The calcareous fubdances, and all thofe dones which contain any thing of lime in their icompofition, didblve readily and with effervefcence in the borax : This effervefcence is the more vio- lent, the greater the portion of lime contained in the done. This reafon, however, is not the only one in the gypfuni, becaufe both the 'Condituents of this do readily mix with the borax, and there- fore a greater edervefcence arifes in melting gyp- fum with the borax, than lime alone. 2. The Siliceae do not diifolve, uakfs fome few, which contain a quantity of imn, 3. The ArgillacejE, when pure, are not aedeJ -upon by the borax •, but when they are mixed with fome heterogeneous bod;es, they are difiblved, though very dowly •, fuch is for indance the Stone Marrow, the Common Clay, &c. 4. The Granateie, Zeolites, and Trapp, diffolve but flowly. 5. The Fluores, Afbedinie, and Micaccae, dif- folve for the mod part very eafily, andlo forth. U 4 SECT, [ 296 3 SECT. XXVII. Some of thefe bodies melt to a colourlefs tranf^ parent glafs with the borax ; for inftance, the Calcareous Subftances, when pure, the Fluores, fonie of the Zeolites, &c. Others tinge the borax with a green tranfparent colour ; viz. the Granate^\ ibme of the Argillacete^ fome of the Mica- (Cct 7irA Afoefiin^ : This green has its origin, partly irern a finall portion of iron, which the Granatece. particularly coniain, and partly from phlogifton. S E C T. XXVIII. The borax cannot dilTolve but a certain quan- tity of a mineral body proportional to its own. Of the calcareous kind it dififolves a vaft quantity, but turns at laft, when too much has been added, from a clear, tranfparent, to a wdiice, opaque flag. When the quantity of the calcareous matter ex- ceeds but little in proportion, the glafs looks very clear as long as It rernains hot •, but as foon as it begins to cool, a white half opaque cloud is feen p arife from the bottom, which fpreads over the third, half, or more of the glafs globe, in propor- tion to the quantity of calcareous matter ; but the glafs or flag is neverthelefs fhining, and of a glafly texture when broke *, if more of this matter be added, the cloud rifes quicker and more opaque, and fo by degrees till the flag becomes quite milk >vhite : It i? 'then no more of a Ihining, but rather dry appearance, on the furface ; is very brittle, and of a grained texture, when broke. SECT. [ 297 3 SECT. XXIX. All that has been faid hitherto of experiments upon mineral bodies, is only concerning the ftones and earths. I am now proceeding to the metals and ores, in order to defcribe the manner of ex- amining thefe bodies, and particularly the manage- ment of the Blow-pipe in thefe experiments. An exa(5b knowledge, and nice proceeding are fo much the more neceflary here, as the metals are often fo difguifed in their ores, as to be very difficultly known by their external appearance, and liable fometimes to be miftaken one for the other ; Some of the cobalt ores for inftance, refemble much a Pyrites Arfenicalis ; there are ajfo fome iron and lead ores, which are nearly like one another, &c. SECT. XXX. As tlie ores generally confift of metals minera- lifed with fulphur or arfenlc, or fometimes both together *, they ought firft to be expofed to the fire by themfelves, in order, not only to deter- mine with which of thefe they are mineralifed, but alfo to fet them free from thefe volatile minera- iifing bodies : Thus this ferves inftead of calcina- tion, by which they are prepared for further effays. SECT, xxxr. Here it muff be obferved, that, whenever any metal, or fufible ore is to be tried, a little con- cavity mull be made in that place of the charcoal where the matter is to be put ; becaufe, as foon as it is melted, jt forms jtfdf into a globular figure. [ 298 ] smd might then roll from the charcoal, if its fur- face was plain ; but when borax is put to it, this inconveniency is not fo much to be feared. SECT. XXXIL Whenever an ore is to be tried, a fmali t ir is broke off for that purpofe, of fuch a fize as is di- ?ecled in Secb. xvi. this bit is laid upon tne char- coal, and the fame blown on it flowly : I'hen the fulphiir or arfenic begins to part from it in form of fmbke ; thefe are eafiiy diftinguifhed from one another by their fmell, that of fulphur being fuf- hcientiy known, and the arfenic fmelling like gar- lick. The fiame ought to be blown very foftly, as long as any fmoke is feen to part from the ore ; but, after that, the heat muft be augmented by degrees, in order to make the calcination as per- fedt as pofTible. If the heat is applied very fbrong from the beginning upon an ore, that contains much of the fulphur, or arfenic, this ore will pre- fently melt, and yet lofe very little of its mine- ralifing bodies, and by that means render the cal- cination very imperfedf. It is however, impofTible to calcine the ores in this manner to the utmofl perfedlion, which is eafily feen in the following inftance, viz. in melting down a calcined Potter’s ore with borax, it will be found to bubble upon the coal, which depends on the fulphur, which is iflill left, the vitriolic acid of this uniting with the borax, and caufing this motion. However, lead in its metallic form, melted in this manner, bub- bles alone upon the charcoal, if any fulphur re- mains in it. But, as the lead, as well as fome of the other metals, may raife bubbles upon the charcoal, although they are quite free from the fulphur, only by the flames being forced too vio- [ 299 ] Icntly on it, thefe phoenomena ought not 'to be confounded with each other. SECT. XXXIII. The ores being thus calcined, the metals con- tained in thefn may be difcovered, either by being melted alone, or with fluxes : when they fliew thenifelves, either in their pure metallic ftate, or by tinging the flag with colours peculiar to each of them. In thefe experiments it is not to be ex- pedled, that the quantity of metal contained in the ore fliould be exactly determined ; this muft be done in larger laboratories. This cannot, how- ever, be looked upon as any defedf, fince it is fuf- ficient for a mineralifl:, only to find out what fort of metal is contained in the ore. There is ano- ther circumflance, which I am forry to fay, is a . more real defect in our little laboratory, which is, that fome ores are not at all able to be tried in it, by fo fmall an apparatus : for inftance, the gold ore called Pyrites aureus^ which confifts of gold, iron, and fulphur. The greatefl: quantity of gold, which this ore contains, is about one ounce, or one ounce and an half out of one hundred pounds of the ore, the refb being iron and fulphur ; and as only a very fmall bit is allowed for thefe experi- ments, (Sedt. xvi. xxxi.) the gold contained there- in, can hardly be thfeerned by the eye, even if it could be exrradled, but it goes along with the iron in the flag, this lafl: metal being in fo large a quantity in proportion to the other, and botJi of them having a commicible power with each other. All the kinds of Blende, Blackjack, which are mineralifed zink ores, containing zink, fulphur, and iron, cannot be tried this way, becaufe they cannot be perfedtly calcined, and befides, the zink flies [ 300 3 flies off, when the iron fcorifies : neither can ail thofe Blendes, which contain filver or gold mi- neralifed with them, be tried in this manner, which is particularly owing to the imperfe<5l calci- nation ; nor are the quickfilver ores fit for thefe experiments, the volatility of this femi-metal mak- ing it impofUble to bring it out of the poorer fort of ores * ; and the rich ores, which fweat out the quickfilver, when kept clofe in the hand, not wanting any of thefe affays, &c, Thofe ores ought to be affayed in larger quantities, and even with fuch other methods, as cannot be applied pppn a piece of charcoal. SECT. XXXIV. Some of the rich filver ores arc eafily tried : for inftance, Miner a argent i vitrea^ commonly cal- led Silver-glafs, which confills only of filver and fulphur. When this ore is expofed to the flame, it melts inflantly, and the fulphur goes away in fume, leaving the filver pure upon the charcoal, in a globular form. If this filver ftiogld happen to be of a dirty appearance, which often is the cafe, then it muft be melted anew with a very little borax, and after it has been kept in fuflion for a minute or two, fo as to be perfc6Hy melted and red- hot, the proof is fuffered to cool : it may then be taken off the coal, and being laid upon the fleel- plate, (Se6V. xi. n.) the filver is feparated from the flag by one or two ftrokes of f lie hammer (Scefl;. xi. g,). Here the ufe of the iron ring (Se61:. xi.) is nianifefl, for this ought firil to be placed upon the plate, to hinder the proof from flying off by the violence of the ftroke, which otherwife would * A piece of gold being laid over the preoF, to receive the fumes, readily difeovers if It contains any quick-filver. And it is probable, that by like procefies, we may alfo be enabled to difeover with the Blow pipe oiher of the volatile fubftances. happen, [ 301 } fiappcn. The filver is then found inclofed in the Hag of a globular form, and quite fhining, as if it were polifhed. When a large quantity of filver is contained in a lead ore, viz, in a potter’s ore, it can likewiie be difeovered through the ule of the blowpipe, of which more will be mentioned here- after. (Sedt. xxxix.) SECT. XXXV. Of the pure Tin ores, the tin may be melted out in its metallic Hate. Some of thefe ores melt very eafily, and yield their metal in quantity, if only expofed to the fire by themfelves : but others are more refradlory, and as thefe melt very (lowly, the tin, which fweats out in form of very fmall glo- bules, is inftantly burnt to allies, before theie glo- bules have time to unite, in order to compofe a larger globe, which might be feen by the eye, and is not lb foon dellroyed by the fire ; it is therefore neceflary to add a little borax to tliefe from the beginning, and then to blow the flame violently aB the proof. The borax does here preferve. thc^ metal from being too foon calcined, and even con- tributes to the readier colleding of the fmall me- tallic particles, which foon are feen to form them- felves into a globule of metallic tin at the bottom of the whole mafs, nearell to the charcoal. As foon as fo much of metallic tin is produced, as is fufficient to convince the operator of its prefence, the fire ought to be ceafed, although not the whole of the ore is yet melted •, bccaule feldom, or ra- ther never, the whole of this kind of ore can be reduced into metal by means of thefe experiments, a great deal thereof always being calcined : and if the fire is continued too long, perhaps even the metal, already reduced, may likewife be burnt to allies : for the tin is very Ibon ddlroycd from its metallic Hate by rlie fire. S E C T, [ 302 ] SECT. XXXVI. Moft part of the lead ores may be broiight to a metallic lead upon the charcoal. The Miner ^eplumbi cakiformes^ which are pure, are eafily melted into lead : but fuch of them, as are mixed with an ochra-^ ferri^ or any kind of edrth, as Clay, Lime, &c. yield very little of lead, and even nothing at all^ if the heterogenea are combined therewith in any large quantity : this happens even with the Minera plumbi calciformis arfenico mixta, Thefe^ therefore, are not to be tried but in larger laboratories. However, every mineral body fufpefted to contain any metallic fubftance, may be tried by the blow- pipe, fo as to give fufficient proofs, whether contains or not, by its efFe<5ls being different fron^ thofe of the ftone or earths, &c. SECT. XXXVII. The Minerte plumbi mineralifat^^ leave the lead in a metallic form, if not too large a quantity of iron is mixed with it. For example, when a teffellated or fteeFgrained lead ore is expofed to the flame, its fulphur, and even the arfenic, if there be any, begins to fume, and the ore itfclf immediately to melt into a globular form the refl of the fulphur continues then to fly off, if the flame is blown flowly upon the mafs, inftead of that, very little of the fulphur will go off, if the flame is forced violently on it : in this cafe, it ra- ther happens that the lead irfelf crackles and diffi- pates, throwing about very minute metallic par- ticles. The fulphur being driven out, as much as poffible, which is known by finding no fulphureous vapour in finelling at the proof, the whole is fuf- fered t 303 ] fered to cool, and then a globule of metallic lead will be left upon the coal. If any iron is contained in the lead ore, the lead, which is melted out of it, is not of a metallic fhining, but rather of a black and uneven furface : a little borax muft in this cafe be rrteked with it, and as foon as no bub- ble is leen to rife any longer from the metal into the borax, the fire mull be difcontinued : when the mafs is grown cold, the iron will be found fcorified with the borax, and the lead left pure> and of a fliinin^ colour. SECT. XXXVIII. The borax does not fcorify the lead in thefe fmall experiments, when it is pure : if the flam& is forced with violence on it, a bubbling will enfue» xefembling that which is obferved when borax difiblves a body melted with it,* but when the fire ceafes, the flag will be perfectly clear and tranfpa- rent, and a quantity of very minute lead particieft will be feen foread about in the borax, which have been torn off from the mafs during the bubbling* SECT. XXXIX. If fuch a lead ore (Seff. xxxvii.) is rich in filver, this laft metal may likewife be difeovered by this experiment *, becaufe, as the lead is volatile, it may be forced off, and the filver remain. To effect this, the lead, which is melted out of the ore^ muff be kept in conftant fufion with a flow heat^ that it may be confumed. This end will be fooner obtained, and the lead part quicker, if, during, the fufion, the wind through the Blow-pipe is di- reded immediately, though not forcibly, upon the melted mefs itfelf, until it begins to cooi, then the fire muff be direded on it again. The kad,. which C 304 J Js already in a volatilifing ftate, will by this artifice be driven out in form of a fubtil fmoke ; and by thus continuing by turns, to melt the mafs, and then to blow off the lead, as has been faid, until no fmoke is any longer perceived, the filver will at laft be obtained pure. The fame obfervation holds good here alfo, which was made about the gold, that,- as none but very little bits of the ores can be em- ployed in thefe experiments^ it will be difficult to cxtradl the filver out of a poor ore ; for fome part of it will fly off with the lead, and, what might be left, is too little to be difeerned by the eye. The filver, which, by this means is obtained, is cafily diftinguifhed from lead by the following ex- ternal marks, viz. that it muft be red-hot, before it can be melted : it codes fooner than lead : it has a filver colour; that is to fay, brighter and whiter than lead : and is harder to beat with the hammer. (Sed. xxxiv.) The cupri calciformes^ fat leafl: fome Of them) when not mixed v/ith too much flonc or earth, are eafily reduced to copper with any flux : if the copper is found not to have its natural bright colour, it mufl be melted with a little borax, which purifies it. Some of thefe ores do not at all difeover their metal, if not immediately mckcJ with borax ; the heterogenea, contained in then^, hindering the fufion, before thefe are fccriiied by the flux. manner, as above-mcntkc-cd= (Scd. -1) SECT. XL S E C T. XL! The grey Copper ores, copper and fulphur, are triv,. — cxno [ ] expofed to the flame by themfelves, they will be found inftantly to melt, and part of their fulphuf to go off ; the copper may afterwards be obtained in two ways : the one, by keeping the proof in fufion for about a minute, and after fuffering it to cool ; when it will be found to have a dark and uneven appearance externally, but which, after being broke, difcovers the metallic copper of a globular form in its centre, furrounded with a re- gule, which ftill contains fome fulphur and a por tion of the metal : the other, by being melted with borax, which laid way fometimes makes th^ metal appear fooner. S E C T. XLII. The Miner ce ctipri pyritacecc^ contiiining copper*’ fulphur, and iron, may be tried with the blow- pipe, if they are not too poor : in thefe experi- ments the ore ought to be calcined, and, after that, the iron fcorined. For this purpofe a bit of the ore mull be expofed to a flow flame, that as milch of the fulphur as poffible may part from it, before it is melted, becaufe the ore commonly melts very foon, and then the fulphur is more difflcult to drive ofl'. After being mielted, it mufl be kept in fufion with a ftrong fire, for about a minute, that a great part of the iron may be calcined : and, after that, Ibme "borax miifh be added, which fcorifies the iron, and turns with it to a black flag. If the ore is very rich, a metallic copper will be had in the flag, after the feotifleation : if the ore is of a moderate richnefs, the copper will ftill retain a little fulphur, atid fometiimes iron : the product will therefore be brittle, and muft with great caution be feparated from the flag, that it may not break into pieces ; and it this product is X after- [ 300 ] afterwards treated in the fame manner as before faid, in fpeaking of the grey copper-ores (Sed. xli.), the metal will foon be produced. But, if the ore is poor, the produd after the firft fcorification muft be brought into fufion, and afterwards melted with fome frefli borax, in order to calcine and fco- rify the remaining portion of iron *, after which it may be treated as mentioned in Sed. xli. The copper will, in this laft cafe, be found in a very fmail globule. SECT. XLIir. The copper is not very eafily fcorified with this apparatus, when it is melted together with borax ; unlefs it has firft been expofed to the fire by itfelf for a while, in order to be calcined. When only a little of this metal is diflfolved,' it inftantly tinges the flag of a reddifh brown colour, and moftly opaque ; but as foon as this flag is kept in fufion for a little while, it becomes quite green and tranf- parent : and thus the prefence of the copper may be difcovered by the colour, when it is concealed in heterogeneous bodies, fo as not to be difcovered by any other experiment. SECT. XLIY. If metallic copper is melted with borax by a flow fire, and only for a very little time, the glafs, or flag, becomes of a fine tranfparent blue or violet colour, inclining more or lefs to the green *, but this colour is not properly owing to the copper, but it may ra- ther be to its phlogifton ; becaufe the fame colour is to be had in the fame manner from iron : and thefe glalfes, which are coloured with either of thefe two metals, foon lofe their colour, if ex- pofed C 307 ] pofed to a ftrong fire, in which they are made quitd clear, and colourlefs. Befides, if this glals, tinged blue with the copper, is again melted with more of tliis metal, it becomes of a good green colour, which tor a long time keeps unchanged in the fire* SECT. XLV* The iron ores, when pure, can never be melted by themfelves, through the m.eans of the blow- pipe alone, nor do they yield their metal, whcxn melted with fluxes, becaufe they require too ftrong a heat to be brought into fufion ; and, as both the ore and the metal itfelf very foon iofe their phlogifton in the fire, and cannot be lupplied v/ith a fuflicient quantity from the charcoal, lb likewife they are Very foon calcined in the fire. This eafy calci- nation is alfo the reafon w^hy the fluxes, for in- ftance borax, readily fcorify this ore, and even the metal itfelf. The iron iofes its phlo- gifton in the fire fooner than the copper, it is there- fore eafier fcorified *, and this is the principle on which the experiment mentioned in Sed., xlii. is founded. SECT. XLVI. The ii*on is, however, difcovered without much difficulty, although it were mixed but in a very fmall quantity with heterogeneous bodies. The ore, or thole bodies which contain any large quantity of the metal, are ail attracted by the load- ftone, fome w^ithout any previous calcination, and others not till after having being roafted. When a clay is mixed with a little iron, it commonlv melts by itfelf in the fire ; but, if this metal is contained in a lirneftone, it does not promote the X 2 fufion, [ 3oS ] fufion, but gives the ftone a dark, and fometlmes a deep black colour, which always is the charadler of iron. A Miner a ferri calcifor,ms pur a cry ft al- ii fat is commonly of a red colour : This being expofed to the flame, becomes quite blacky and is then readily attracted by the loadftone, which it was not before, Befides thefe figns, the iron dif- covers itfelf, by tinging the flag of a green tranf- parent colour, inclining to brown, when only a little of the metal is fcorified •, but as foon as any larger quantity thereof is diflTolved in the flag, this becomes firil a blackifh brown, and afterwards quite black and opaque. SECT. XL VII. - Bifmuth is known by its communicating a yellowifli brown colour to borax : and Arfenic by Its volatility, and garlick fmell. Antimony, both in form of regulus and ore, is wholly volatile in the fire, when it is not mixed with any other metal (except arfenic), and is known by its particular fmell \ eafier to be diifinguilhed, when once known, than defcribed. When the ore of antimony is melted upon the charcoal, it bub- bles conftantly, during its volatilifing. SECT. XLVn. Zinc ores are not eafily tried upon the coal (Se6l. xxxiii.). But the regulus of zinc, ex- poled to the fire upon the charcoal, burns with a beautiful blue flame, and forms itfelf almoll in- ftantly into white flowers, which are the common (powers of zinc. SECT, [ 3«9 ] > SECT. XLVIII. Cobalt is particularly remarkable for giving to the glafs a blue colour, which is the zalfre or fmalt. To produce this, a piece of cobalt ore mufi: be calcined in the fire (Sed. xxx. xxxi.) and afterwards melted with borax. As foon as the glafs, during the fufion, from being clear, feems to grow opaque, it is a fign, that it is already tinged a little the fire is then to be difcontinucd, and the operator mufi: take hold with the nippers (Sed. xi. 6.) of a little of the glafs, w^hilfi; yet hot, and draw it out (lowly in the beginning, but afterwards very quick, before it cools, whereby a thread of the coloured glafs is procured, more or lefs thick, on which the colour may eafier be feen againft the day or candle-light, than if it was left in a globular form. This thread melts eafily if only put in the flame of the candle, without the help of the blow- If this glafs is melted again with more of the cobalt, and kept in fufion tor a while, the colour becoiT^es very deep •, and thus the colour may be altered, according to pleafure. SECT. L. When the cobalt ore is pure, or at leaft contains but little iron, a cobalt regulus is almofi; inllantly produced in the borax, during the fufion : but when it is mixed with a quantity of iron, this laic metal ought firft to be feparated, which is eafily performed, fince it fcorifies fooner than the cobalt > therefore, as long as the flag retains any brown or black colour Sed. xlviii. it mufi; be feparated, X 3 and C ] |nd melted ag^in with frefh borax, until it fliewi the blue colour. SECT. LI. Nickel is very feldom to be had, and as its ores are feldom free from mixtures of other metals, it is very difficultly tried with the blowpipe. However, when this femi-metal is mixed with iron and cobalt, it is eafily freed from thefe heteroge- neous metals, and reduced to a pure nickel regulus by means of fcorification with borax, in the fame manner as is mentioned Sedt. 1. becaufe both the iron and cobalt fooner fcorify than the nickel. The regulus of nickel itfelf is of a green colour, \vhen calcined : it requires a pretty ftrong fire be- fore it melts, and tinges the borax with a jacint colour. Manganefe gives the fame colour to borax, but its other qualities are quite different, fo as not to be confounded with the nickel. SECT. LII. Thus I have briefly defcribed the ufe of the Blow-pipe, and the method of employing it in the lludy of Mineralogy. Any gentleman who is a lover of this fcience, will, by attending to the rules here laid down, be able in an eafy manner to amufe himfelf in difcovering the properties of thofe works of nature which the mineral kingdom fur- lilfhes us with. The hufbandman may by its help find out what forts of ftones, earths, ores, &c. there are on his eftate, and to what ceconomical ufes they may be employed. The Scientific Mi- neraliil may, by examining into the properties and effefis of the mineral bodies, difcover the natural relation [ 3 ” ] relation thefe bodies Hand in to each other, and thereby furnifh himfelf with materials for eilablifh- ing a Mineral Syftem, founded on fuch principles as Nature herfelf has laid down in them ^ and this in his own ftudy, without being forced to have re- courfe to great laboratories, crucibles, furnaces, ’&C. which is attended with a great deal of trouble, and is the reafon why fo few can have an op- portunity of gratifying their defire of knowledge in this part of natural hiitory. 1 do not pretend to fay, that the Pocket-Laboratory here defcribed, is in every refpe^l as perfed as it is capable of being made : and I have in the foregoing pages indicated fome inflances wdiere it is not fufficient ; yet thofe inftances are very few. Befides, the Ihort time fince it has been invented, and the few perfons that have known how to make ufe of it, are a fufficient apology for its not being brought to the utmoh: degree of perfection. It is to be hoped, that the more general its ufe be made, the more and fooner will fuch imperfedlions be removed, and fuch wants filled up, as will be found necefiary and convenient. I fiiall nov/ add fome hints towards thefe improvements, leaving to the judicious prac- titioner the manner of completing them. 5 E C T. LIII. A greater number of fiuxes might, perhaps, be found out, whofe effeCts on mineral bodies might be different from thefe already in mfe, whereby more diftinCt characters of thofe mineral bodies might be difeovered, which now either fl:iew am- biguous ones, or which are almoft impoffible to try exactly with the Blow-pipe. Inftead of the fal fod^, fome other fairs mdght be found our, more fit for thefe experiments. But it is very necefiary X 4 not [ 3J? ] to make ufe of any other fluxes than fuch aa have no attradlion to the charcoal : if they, at the fame time, are clear and tranfparent, when melted, as the borax and the fal fujiblle microcof- wicmn^ it is ftill better : however, the tranfparency or opacity are of no great confequence, if a fub- ftance is efiayed only in order to difcover its fufi- bility, without any attention to its colour ; in which cafe, fome metallic flag, perhaps, might be ufeful. SECT. LIV. When fuch ores are to be reduced whofe metals are very apt to calcine, fuch as tin, zinc, &c. it mighc perhaps be of fervice to add fome phlo- gifton, fince the charcoal cannot afford enough of it in the open fire of thefe effays : fuch a phlogiflon might be the hard refin, or fome fuch body. The manner of melting the volatile metals out of their oresyjfr defcenfum might alfo, perhaps, be imitated : for infliance, a hole might be made in the charcoal, wide above, and very narrow' at the bottom *, a little piece of the ore being then laid at the upper end of the hole, and covered with fome very fmall pieces of the charcoal, the flame mufi: be dire(5ted on the top : the metal might, perhaps, by this me- thod gather in the hole below, concealed from the violence of the fire, particularly if the ore is very fufible, &c. • Several of my experiments have indeed induced me to believe the poffibility of thefe improvements •, but as I have not yet had an opportunity of bring- ing them to perfection, 1 will not deliver them as infallible : thefe hints are only communicated an inducement to farther experience. SEC T- [ 3*3 ] SECT. LV, The life of the Pocket-Laboratory, as here de- fcribed, is chiefly calculated for a travelling mine- ' ralift. But a perfon who- is always refiding at one an,d the fame place, may by fome fmall aitefa- tion make it more commodious to himfelf, and avoid the trouble of blowng with the mouth. For this purpofe he may have the Blow-pipe go through a hole in a table, and fixed under- neath to a fmall pair of bellows with double bot- toms, fuch as fome of the glafs- blowers ufe, and then nothing more is required, than to move the * bellows with the feet during the experiment *, but in this cafe a lamp >may be ufed infliead of a candle. This method would be attended wjth a fiill greater advantage, if there were many fuch parts as fig. 3. tab, j. the openings of which were of different dimenfions : thcie parts might by means of a fcrew. be faftened to the main body of the Blow-pipe, and taken away at leifure. The benefit of having thefe nozzles, if I may be permitted to call them fo, of. different capacities at their ends, would be that of. exciting a ftronger or weaker heat as occafion- might require. It would only be neceffary to ob- ferve, that in proportion as the opening of the pipe, (nozzle) is enlarged, the quantity of the flame rnufl be augmented by a thicker wick in the lamp, and ' the force of blowing increafed by means of weights laid on the bellows. A much intenfer heat would thus be procured by a pipe of a confi- derable opening at the end, by which the experi- ments might undoubtedly be carried farther than y/ith the common Blow^-pipe. SECT. t 3H 3 SECT. Lvr. A traveller, who has feldom an opportunity of carrying many things along with him, may very well be contented with this Pocket-Laboratory, and its apparatus, which is fufiicient for moft part of fuch experiments as can be made on a journey. There are, however, other things very ufeful to have at hand on a journey, which ought to make a fecond part of the Pocket-Laboratory, if the manner of travelling does not oppofe it : this con- fifts of a little box including the different acids, and one or two matraffes, in order to try the mine- ral bodies in liquid menftrua, if required. SECT. LVIL Thefe acids are, the Acid of Nitre, of Vitriol, and of Common Salt. Moft of the ftones and earths are attacked, at leaft in fome degree, by the acids ; but the calcareous are the eafieft of all to be diffolved by them, which is accounted for by their calcareous properties. The acid of nitre is that which is moft ufed in thefe experiments*, it dif- folves the limeftone, when pure, perfectly, with a violent effervefcence, and the folution becomes clear : when the limeftone enters into fome other body, it is neverthelefs difcovered by this acid, through a greater or lefs effervefcence in proportion to the quantity of the calcareous particles, unlefs thefe are fo few, as to be almoft concealed from the acid by the heterogeneous ones. In this manner, a calcareous body, which fometimes nearly refem- bles a filiceous or argillaceous one, may be known from thefe latter, without the help of the Blow-pipe, only by pouring one or two drops of this acid upon [ 315 r upon the fubjedl *, which is very convenient when there is no opportunity, nor time, of ufing this in- ftrument. SECT. LVIII. The Gypfa, which confift of lime and the vitri- olic acid, ( Se 6 l. xviii. 12.) are not in the lead at- tacked by the acid of nitre, if they contain a fuffi- cient quantity of their own acid, becaufe the vi- triolic acid has a ftronger attraction to the lime, than the acid of nitre : but if the calcareous fub- ftance is not perfectly faturated with the acid ' of vitriol, then an effervefcence arifes with the acid of nitre, more or lefs in proportion to the want of the vitriolic acid. Thefe circumftances are often very effential in diftinguifliing the calcarei and gy^fa from one another. SECT. LIX. The acid of nitre is likewife neceflary in trying the zeolites, of which fome fpecies have the fin- gular effect to diffolve with effervefcence in the abovementioned acid ; and within a quarter of an hour, ^or even fometimes not until feveral hours after, to change the whole folution into a clear jelly, of fo firm a confidence, that the glafs, wherein it is contained, m.ay bereverfed, without its falling out. SECT. LX. If any mineral body is tried in this mendruum, and only a fmall quantity is fufpected to bedidblved, though it was impoffible to didinguidi it with the eye during the folution, it can be eafily difcovered by [ 3i6 3 by 'adding to it ad faturitatem a clear folution of an alcali, when the diffolved part will be precipi- tated, and fall to the bottom. For this purpofe the fal fodce (Se6l. xx.) may be very ufeful. SECT. Lxr. The acid of nitre will fufHce for making expe^ riments upon ftones and earths ; but if the expe- riments are to be extended to the metals, the other two acids (Se6t. Ivii.) are alfo necelTary. As the acids are very corrofive, they muii not be kept in the ordinary Pocket-Laboratory, already defcribtd, for fear of fpoiling the other apparatus, if the Hoppers fhould happen not to fit exadtly to the necks of the bottles, and fome of the acid fhould be fplit. SECT. LXII. I have a feparate box, which is eight inches and three quarters long, four inches broad, and five inches high. In this box are three long and narrow bottles, containing the acids, placed upright at one end of it, two glafs matrafies laid horizontally in the upper part, and a little drawer underneath, made on purpofe to fill the empty room below the matrafies, and to give the box a regular form ; and as charcoal is not every where to be met with in travelling, I always have a piece in this drawer for the ufe of the Blow-pipe. SECT. LXIII. In order to keep the acids more clofe in the bot- tles, fince the glafs-flopper is not always fufficient, I have a glafs-cover befides, made fo, as to ferew round [ 317 J round the neck of the bottle •, and if this is nicely made, nothing can come through, though the box be inclined, or even reverfed, which fometimes may happen. The natural form and blgnefs of the glafs matralTes is feen tab. i, fig. 4. They ought to be very thin at the bottom, that they may not crack, by being fuddenly put over the fire, or taken off it. In thefe matraffes folutions may very eafily be made over the flame of a candle : every mineral body capable of being affeded by the acids in this degree of heat, may here be dif- folved, and particularly the metals. As the ma- nagement in thefe proceffes is the fame as in ordi- nary laboratories, of which we have ample defcrip- tions in feveral books, it is not necelfary to copy them here, my intention being only to defcribe an eafy way of making experiments upon mineral bo- dies, which has not before been publifhed ; in ex- plaining of which I neverthelefs have been forced now and then to mention fomething that more properly belongs to Mineralogy. SECT. LXIV. Another inflrument is likewife neceffary to a complete Pocket-Laboratory, viz. a Wafhing- trough, in which the mineral bodies, and particu- larly the ores, may be feparated from each other, and from the adherent rock, by means of water. This trough is very common in the laboratories, and is ufed of different fizes *, but here only one is required of a moderate fize, fuch as twelve inches and a half long, three inches broad at the one end, and one inch and a half at the other end. Hoping down from the fldes and the broad end to the bot- tom, where it is three quarters of an inch deep : I have given a figure of it in tab. i. fig. 5. It is com- [ 3iS ] commonly made of wood, which ought to be choferi fmooth, hard and compafV, wherein are no pores in which the minute grains of the pounded matter may conceal the mfe Ives. It is to be obferved, that if any fuch matter is to be waflied, which is fufpected to contain fome native metal, as filver or gold ; a trough fhould be procured for this purpofe, of a very {hallow flope, becaufe the minute particles of the native metal have then more power to affemble together at the broad end, feparate from the other matter. SECT. LXV. The management of this trough, or the man- ner of wafhing, which I fuppofe to be known be- fore, confifls chiefly in this : That when the matter is mixed with about three or four times its quantity of water in the trough, this is kept very loofe be- tween two fingers of the left hand, and fome light ftrokes given on its broad end with the right, that it may move backwards and forwards, by which means the heavieft particles affemble at the broad and upper end, from which the lighter ones are to be feparated by inclining the trough and pouring a little water on them. By repeating this procefs, all fuch particles as are of the fame gravity may be colledled together, feparate from thofe of a dif- ferent gravity, provided they all were before equally pounded ; though fuch as are of a clayifli nature, are often very difficult to feparate from the reft, which, however, is of no great confeqnence to a fkilful and experienced wafher. 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For rendering more eafy the Knowledge of Mineralogy 5 aSubjed! treated of by fome Writers, who make Ul'e . of feveral original Terms taken from thofe Two Lan- guages. A cids, (mineral) Mlneralilka Syror 1 Germ>, Saure* Saltz ; or Mineralifche-Sauron. Section 1 20. Acid of common fait, Kok-falt-fyra j Germ, Koch-' falz'faure, Sedl. 127. Vid. Vitriolic. Agates. The irregular nodules in which they are found, are called Amorphi^ Page 69, in the note. Argillacea ( terra) Snv. Ler-arter ; Germ, Thon-arten. Se6l.77» Alabaftrites, Strat-gips. Sedl. 17. Alcali, fSalJ Snv, Alcalilka. Alcali of the Sea, Kaf ’s Salt’s Alkali, Se£l. 136. Alkaline mineral falts, Germ. Mineralifche-laugen Salter* Sed. 135. Alum, S. Biorklera. Sed. 90. A. c. Fermenting Clay, Bley glantz, and Bley fchevveifF. Steel grained lead, Bly ftal malm. Se£l. 188. Sparkling ditto, Snxj. Skigg malm. Seft. 188. Lead ore with fulphurated iron and filver, «Sw. lernhaltig blyglans. Sedl. 189. Ditto w'ith antimony and fulphur, S-w, Strip malm ; Germ. Striputs. Limeftone, Kalkflen ; Germ, Kalkflein. Sefl, 9. Coarfe grained ditto, Snv. Salt Slag. Seil. 8. White Limeftone, Snv, Kritften. Common Limeftone, S^-w. Telgften, or Alfvarften, or Oelandften. Scaly Limeftone, S^. Limften, and Limberg. Se£l. 9. White and green, 5 -xv. Storgrufvan. White and black, Snv. Herr ftens bottn. Liver-ftone, S’w. Lefverften ; Germ. Leberftein. Se6l. 18. n. 3. Load-ftone, (coarfe and fcaly) 6'ae. Magnetiskt-eilfen- glim- mer. Se6l. III. d. Lu/us naturay or cafual figures in minerals, .Sw. Stengyckel. Manganefe ore, or earth, *V-tv. Brunftens artcr ; Germ.Brz\j^n^ fteins arten. Sedl. 113. Stony manganefe, Brunften. Seft. 113. Marcafite. See Pyrites. Marie, fiiv. Mergel. Se£l. 25. Semi-indurated Marie, Sw. Mergel skifver. Se£l. 28. Stone marie, S%v. Malreka and Necrebrod ; Germ. Dukftein orTophftein. Marbles indurated, Malrekor. Aiarmor met&llieumy Tung-fpat. Sefl. 1 8. Marrow (ftone) Sten merg; Germ. Stein mergel. Sc'ft. 84. Stone marrow like foap, Szy. Keftekil. Seft. 84. Martial earth (bricks made of) Sav. Water klinkert. Se£l. 83. Martial foap rock, S>Ty. leru hokig fpecr’ften. Se£t. 83. Metals. ( 32 ? ) Metals, Sw. Metallcr ; Germ. Metalle. Mica, Micaceous, S^. and Germ. GUmmer. Large plates of Mica, Sw. Chludna and Rufs glas ; Germ, Ruffifch glas. Small plates of mica, S^m. Kattfilfver ; Germ, ^azen filber^ Crumpled mica, S^. Talc. Sect. 94. Mica Drufica, Siv. Talc Drus. Seit. 9J. Micafquamofa martialis, Snu. Kattgull. Crumpled mica martialis, S-vj. Wrefig- glimmer. Se6l. 9^. Mineral, Snju. Mineraliska. Mock-lead, Wolfram, Mountain blue, Berg blot j Berg-blau. Se£t. 34, Mountains, Shv. Fiell. Mould, S'lv, Mylla. Black mould, Snv. Mat jord; Germ. Sumpfende, and Stan- berde. Seft. 293. Humus animalisy Snv. Diur jord ; Germ. Thiererde. Humus conchaceust- Sneck mylla. Hnmus lacujirisy Snjj. Dy. Se£l. 293. h. z. ‘ Humus ^'egetabilisy Snx). Vext-mylla, and Vext-jord. See Turf. Naphta, Berg-balfam, Se6l. 148. Native, Snju. Naturligt, and Gediget. Nickel mineralifed, Kupfernickel. Se£l. 252-; Ochre. See Iron. Ollaris. Vid. Lapis Ollaris. Ore, 6‘xu. Malm. Opal, S'W. Elementllen. Se£t. 55. Pea ftone, Germ. Sprudelftein. Se. Pim9-ften; Germ. Bims-flein. Se£l, 297. Pynies., ow.;and Germ. Kies. Pale yellow ditto, Biekel-gul-fvafvel kies. Se 61 :. 152. Liver-cdouied' ditto, S^. Wattn kies ^ or, I'enbetl lefver flag. Sedl 153. Copper and iron.marcaflce. Germ. Kupfer kies. Se£l. 155. Quartz, Katt flinta, and Hvit flinta. Sedl. 50. Phombic quartz, Snjj. Felt fpat. Sed. 66. Iron ore with quartz, .Sw. Torrflen. Sedl. 77. Note. Grained quartz, Shm. Torrquartz. Quick- filver, S^. Queck-fiiber. Red, Sou, Rod. Refradory, S- Sc- TS- Ag fZc S Zt'f-.