

576 ISLE OF MAN. MINERAL VEINS. 



vein stone. Both the lead and copper have been wrought. 

 The lead is found in the form of ordinary galena, mixed 

 with the steel grained variety, and has therefore, when 

 the latter has appeared sufficiently abundant, been sub- 

 jected to the process of cupellation. Carbonate of lead 

 has been said to have occurred with it, but I saw no 

 specimens of that substance: the galena is never crys- 

 tallized. 



The copper is in the form of the yellow sulphuret, and, 

 like the lead, was always found massive. It does not 

 appear to have been attended by any other ore ; the 

 carbonate of copper now found among the workings 

 being the result of the present action of the air and 

 the rains. 



The blende, which is the only ore of zinc, is brown, 

 and is frequently crystallized ; but in so confused a 

 manner as not to permit the modifications to be ascer- 

 tained. It is in considerable abundance, and is attended 

 by some insignificant lumps of compact calamine. 



Iron appears only in the shape of calcareous ore, and is 

 either massive, or crystallized in its most common form, 

 namely, a part of the primitive rhomb with curved sur- 

 faces. Its nature was unknown to the miners, and 

 consequently no attempt was made to apply it to use. 

 It is here, as in the other veins, abundant. 



The vein at Brada head is supposed to have been 

 formerly wrought by the Scandinavian possessors of this 

 island. The more recent workings have been now 

 abandoned for about twenty years. 



This vein lies due north, and, after intersecting the 

 high promontory in which it is found, grazes the cliffs 

 of one still further to the north; appearing also in the 

 high land on the southern side of Port Eirin. It has 

 been wrought at all the former points, by driving directly 

 on the body of the vein, but the principal working has 

 been on the northern boundary of this small bay. The 

 position of the vein is erect, and appears, like that at 



