144 Fossils. 



The various bodies which are found 

 by digging in the earth are called fossil 

 substances \ under which are comprehen- 

 ded metals, minerals, stones of divers 

 kinds, and sundry bodies that have the 

 texture between earth and stone. 



These bodies are divided into four 

 different classes by mineralogists, viz. 

 I. Earth and Stones in general ; II. Salts ; 

 III. Inflammables ; and IV. Metals. 



I. Earth and Stones in general are 1st, 

 mould the support of vegetables; 2nd, 

 clays, which mixed with water harden in 

 the fire, into bricks, delf, china, &c. 3d, 

 calcareous substances, as chalks, marls, 

 limestones, marbles, convertible by heat 

 into quicklime, and gypsum into alabas- 

 ter ; 4th, talcs, which are found in flat, 

 smooth laminae ; 5th, slates also split into 

 laminae ; these with a variety of stones 

 from freestone, or sand, to granite, por- 

 phyry, flint, and substances still harder, 

 such as precious stones, are known by va- 

 rious properties, and are accordingly ap- 

 plied to different purposes ; some, in ad- 

 dition to being serviceable in building, are 

 used as whetstones ; some strike fire with 

 steel ; others are polished to glitter in the 



