H4 6rss of Metals. [Book VI, 



1. They are found in a native ftate of purity, with 

 all the metallic properties. Gold is always found in 

 this ftate ; filver, copper, mercury, bifmuth, and ar- 

 fenic often -, iron feldom j and lead, zinc, and rcgulus 

 of antimony ftill more rarely. 



2. Metals are found in the (late of earth or calx, 

 without the metallic afpect, and often refembling 

 ochres. 



3. The common ftate, however, in which metals 

 are found is that of ores. In this ftate they are either 

 combined with fulphur or with fome metal, the rnoft 

 common of which is arfenic *. 



4. The laft ftate in which metals are found, is that 

 of a combination with feline hibfl nces, and almoft 

 always acids. The vitriolic acid is moft frequently 

 found combined with metals, viz. zinc, lead, copper, 

 and iron. The carbonic acid is alfo a common mine- 

 ralizer, and the arfenical and phofphoric acids have 

 likewife been diibovercd in combination with me- 

 tals. 



Metallic fubftances are more commonly found in 

 mountains than in plains, and almoft always in fuch 

 mountains as form continued chains. It is in the 

 ilraiified mountains that metals moft abound, where 

 the inclination of the ftrata, in confequence of the 

 convulfions of nature, brings a variety of fubftances 

 into view, which muft otherwife have been for ever 

 concealed beneath the reach of human inveftigation. 

 There are entire mountains which ccnfift of iron ore, 

 but in general the metallic part of a mountain is very 

 inconfiderable in proportion to the whole. The ores 

 ibni-j times run parallel to the ftony^ ftrata; the layer 

 .on which the ore is placed is called the bed or floor 



* In this and the following ftate they are faid, in technical Ian- 

 gunge, to be mineralized; tha,. is combined with Tome other mi- 

 neral fubflar.cc. 



of 



