C F N A T U R E. '55 



from incruftations brought upon mofs, but are 

 alfo increafed by cnj^al and /par. Not to men- 

 tion that the adjacent earth, efpecially if it be 

 impregnated with iron particles, is commonly 

 changed into a [o\id jhne. 



It is faid, that the jnarMe quarries in Italy, 

 from whence fragments are cut, grow up again. 

 Ores grow by little and little, whenever the 

 mineral particles, conveyed by the means of 

 water through the clefts of mountains, are 

 retained there ; fo that adhering to the homo- 

 geneous matter a long while, at lall they take 

 its nature, and are changed into a fimilar f\ib- 

 ilance. 



§• 5- 



Deflruftion. 



FoJJils^ although they are the hardefl of bo- 

 dies, yet are found fubjed to the laws of de- 

 ftrudion, as well as all other created fjbfliances. 

 For they are diffolved in various ways by the 

 elements exerting their force upon them, as 

 by water, air and the folar rays, as alfo by the 

 rapidity of rivers, violence of cataradts, and 

 eddies which continually beat upon and at lad 

 reduce to powder the hardefl rocks. The agi- 

 E 4. tations 



