71 



they present themselves willi such different mo- 

 difications, that a particular enumeration and 

 description of theiri would require a volume. 

 The most remarkable species of those that I have 

 seen, is the auriferous pyrites, generally denomi- 

 nated the Inca stone. M. Bomare, in his Dic- 

 tionary of Natural History, observes, that this 

 stone is very rare, and found only in the tombs of 

 the ancient Peruvians. This may perhaps be 

 the case in Peru, but it is otherwise in Chili, 

 vi^here it is found in great quantities upon the 

 Campana, a high mountain in the province of 

 Quillota, and is known by the same name. Thi- 

 pyrites is of a cubical ligure, and contains 

 mixture of gold and cojiper mineralized with 

 sulphur. It emits but a very few sparks with 

 the steel, a circumsfance v, iiich distinguishes it 

 from all other species. 



Sfxt. XT. Semi'inctaU.. All tlje known \:\u^\> 

 of semi-metals are met with in Chili, and ar? 

 found cither in mines by tliemselves, or coinbiiu-d 

 with metallic ores, and generally in a 'iinic of 

 mineralization. But the v.orking them is neg- 

 lected or prohibited, and anlirnor.y is the only 

 one sout,ht for, as it is nece!-sarv for refining 

 i\M:t juccious metals. This mineral is discovered 

 under various forms, as, the red antimony com 

 bined with arsenic and sulpliur, the strialed and 

 iiiie compact, all of which arc found In mines of 



