The Hartz. 115 



the fine hannotome, stilbite, and mesotype, and particularly of the 

 beautiful carbonate of lime, specimens of which from this locality 

 are seen adorning the mineralogical cabinets throughout the continent. 

 The forms which appeared the most abundant, were regular hexag- 

 onal prisms with perfect bases, the acute metastatique, the cubo rhom- 

 boedron, &c. Of the ores galena is the most abundant, but it 

 does not produce by any means the greater portion of silver ; fine 

 specimens of native arsenic, argentiferous gray copper, copper py- 

 rites, &c. are found. 



The Ramelsberg is an elevation of about one thousand two hun- 

 dred and thirty feet above the plane upon which Goslar is situated. 

 This mountain, which bears the same name as the mine, forms a part of 

 and limits the argillaceous slate on this side of the range, passing often 

 into graywacke. This rock has a mean inclination of near 46°, like 

 that of the metallic deposit, which has been successfully wrought 



since the year 968. 



The cropping out of this immense bed is seen about half way up 

 the mountain, where it has but little capacity, but it increases as it 

 descends, having a thickness at the bottom of upwards of one hun- 

 dred and eighty feet. Near the center, the depot is separated and 

 forms two beds ; the inferior has the least capacity and is nearly ex- 

 hausted. The greatest capacity of this deposit exists at the point of 

 separation. The mass is abruptly terminated with an inclined plane, 

 forming an angle of 45°, with an horizontal line drawn from the di- 



rection of the base. Disseminated masses of the gangue become 

 frequent ; and, what is remarkable, the richness of the ore diminish- 

 es as these masses of rock become more abundant, all these appear- 

 ances coinciding to announce the approaching dissolution of a source 

 of wealth, on which the inhabitants depend for their existence ; not- 

 withstanding, an immense portion of ore still exists, awaiting extrac- 

 tion. The ores here found are compactly mixed. They may be 

 separated into three kinds ; 1st, that in which galena and blende form 

 the principal part; 2d, iron and copper pyrites; 3d, the ore left by 

 the ancients, which for a length of time was covered with water, and 

 is now extracted and washed for the sulphates of iron and copper. 

 Some of the galleries contain stalactites of the sulphate of iron and 

 copper, formed by the slow oozing of water through the above heaps ; 

 we were struck with the admirable effect produced by the reflective 

 light of our lamps ; giving a mellow blue tinge to the surroundin; 

 objects, scarcely capable of being described. We did not observe 

 that any means were employed for collecting the copper of cementa- 



