Origin of Quartz and Metalliferous Veins, 227 



cannot, therefore, be doubted, when we consider the frequency 

 of carbonated springs containing soda. Berzelius* has 

 proved the solubility of fluor-spar in the Carlsbad water, and 

 has shewn that the bicarbonate of soda was its solvent. He 

 found, it is true, only ^jyisVirTr of fluor-spar in it ; but I have 

 ascertained that the quantity of the bicarbonate of soda in 

 this water is sufficient to dissolve a much larger quantity of 

 fluor-spar. The solubility in water of all the non-metallic 

 substances occurring in metalliferous veins, under the modi- 

 fications already pointed out, is not to be disputed. 



With regard to the electro-negative metals, such as anti- 

 mony, arsenic, gold, &c., it has been long known that as 

 sulphurets they entered into liver of sulphur combina- 

 tions, which are soluble in water. As sulphurous waters 

 contain dilute solutions of liver of sulphur, and were pro- 

 bably much more abundant at early periods than they are at 

 present, there is nothing opposed to the supposition that it 

 was these which introduced the metals now under considera- 

 tion into the metalliferous veins. There remain, therefore, 

 now only the electro-positive metals, such as lead, copper, 

 silver, iron, &;c., in regard to which we have still to shew 

 the possibility of their introduction in the moist way, in order 

 to establish the general principle, that all the component 

 parts of metalliferous veins may thus have been introduced. 

 It is at present the object of my investigations to ascertain 

 the solvents of the electro-positive metals which it may be 

 supposed existed in nature. I shall say no more now, than 

 that I have long ago provedj the formation of iron-pyrites 

 and zinc-blende in the moist way. 



It will readily be conceded that there is no difficulty to be 

 encountered in the circumstance of lead, copper, and silver 

 ores, &c., having required large quantities of watery fluids 

 for their solution ; for in investigations respecting processes 

 in our earth, it is only necessary to shew whether certain 

 actions take place or not. If they take place in ever so 

 minute a degree, then consequences of very great magnitude 



* Gilbert's Annalen, vol. Ixxiv., p. 156. 

 t Neues Jahrbuch der Chemie. 



