OfOXFO%V-SHl%E. y? 



3 5 . Nor muft I forget the Iron-ftone at Shot-over, though oc- 

 cafionally mention'd, and its ufes delared, in the immediatly 

 preceding Chapter of Earths : fo called, not from any fuch metal 

 that it holds, but meerly I fuppofefrom the colour 'tis off. This 

 Itryed with the Load-fione and Aqua forth, thinking thereby, if 

 it held any Iron, it muft needs have confeft it to one of thofe 

 two. But I fince have found the Experiments but ill applyed, for 

 neither will Cavala (which is the belt Iron-ore) anfwer either of 

 them : So that I do not now condemn it to be no Iron-ore, upon 

 thofe grounds as at firft, but from other confiderable differences 

 it has from the known Iron- ores of Glocefter-flire and Sufex. 



36. There is alfo near Thame on Cuttkbrookrfide, another Iron- 

 colour'' d ft one, but more fpungy than the former, and including 

 within it a blackifh kind of Cinder \ the moft like, of any thing 

 I yet have feen, to Magnefta (in the Glafs-houfes, called Man- 

 ganefe) only it wants of its clofenefs of texture and weight : 

 what it fliould be, or for what ufe likely, to me I confefs is 

 wholly unknown, unlefs 1 may call it the Siderites of Pliny f . I 

 therefore defift to fay more about it, but commend it to the dif- 

 covery of future ages. 



37. At Eyfield-merrymouth, in the Field above the Cave lately 

 made by Mr. Bray, in the bank near the Brook, I found a ftone of 

 a light yellow colour, made up of glittering Lamella, or Plates, 

 which according to the defcription of Georgia Agricola % feems 

 not unlike the Samian-ftone, found alfo about Uafda in the Bifhop- 

 rick of Hildejbeime, and good only for polifhing filver and gold* 

 Such laminated Stones by Nicolas Steno h are thought to be no- 

 thing but incruflations, made in the confines o^zfiluid zndfelid, an 

 opinion that feems to come near to the truth. However it be, it 

 is fomthing formed, and ma^ well ferve to ufher in the next Cha- 

 pter, which I have wholly refer ved for formed Jiones. 



' Hifl. Nat. lit- 37. c- 10. Fopium, lib. 5. In Vrodrom. 



CHAP. 



