352 



M. F. Le Play on the Geology of 



[May 



Copper occurs in the same circumstances with galena, in 

 the shape of copper pyrites, blue and green carbonates. 

 The most common mineral is a mixture of green carbonate 

 of copper and hydrate of iron. It contains 30 per cent, of 

 copper, and is found near Talarrubias, where it forms 

 singular veins on the surface, to the north of Anora, at a 

 place called Casa Blanca, on the north of Cordova. These 

 three varieties contain 



Oxide of copper . 

 Water and carbonic acid 

 Hydrate of iron . . . 

 Quartz 



Metallic copper 



The same mineral occurs at Garlitos in granite . 



Antimony was mined during last century in the mountains 

 of La Mancha ; and in the bed of the Guadiana large blocks 

 of sulphuret of antimony are met with. 



Iron is plentiful in this district, in the form of red oxide, 

 passing into fer oligiste, and red and brown hematite, 

 deposited in layers and veins in the quartz which crowns 

 the small chains of Estramadura. In the Sierra d'Orellana 

 vast excavations are observed, which were produced for the 

 extraction of this metal. On the right bank of the Rio 

 Guezna there are thick layers of fer oligiste, which supply 

 the works of Pedroso. 



Such is the wealth of this province, which might be raised 

 to opulence and luxury if the people were stimulated to 

 industry. 



Most authors who have written upon Estramadura, 

 struck with the limited population, when compared with the 

 extent of the province, have deplored the retrograde state 

 into which it has fallen. The symptoms of this falling off 

 are very distinct on the Guadiana, where large Roman 

 cities are transformed into country towns. The nature of 

 the soil, as depending upon the different formations, has 

 had a decided effect upon the distribution of the inhabitants. 

 The transition formation is in general much less fertile than 



