77" 



viiy, is much greater than that of the metals 

 composing it, when artificially combined. This 

 brittleness renders it unfit for any thing but the 

 casting of cannon, bells, &c. 



Large quantities of this metal are sent to Spain ^. 

 for the use of foundries, whence M. Bomare 

 has been led to observe, in his Dictionary of 

 Natural History, that the copper of Coquimbo 

 is of little value. The matrix of this ore is a 

 grey sandy stone, easily broken ; and the relative 

 proportions of the copper to the tin vary consi- 

 derably. 



The malleable copper is found in many of the 

 other provinces as well as Coquimbo ; it possesses 

 every quality requisite in that metal, and is 

 the species from whence the Chilian copper has 

 principally derived its high reputation. Its ma- 

 trix is a soft brown and sometimes white stone ; 

 the ore, which is mineralized with a small portion 

 of sulphur, 'fn its appearance and ductility resem- 

 bles native copper, a simple roasting being suffi- 

 cient to expel the sulphur, and render it mallea- 

 ble and fit for use. The miners, however, re- 

 fine it in the usual manner, as they pretciid that 

 by this means it acquires a brii;liter colour. 

 Tliere is a remarkable aiiiniiv bdv.c;^n this copper 

 and gi)ld ; t!io?e metals are no( oiA\ uiways found 

 coni))ined, but veiiii of pure ^old ;ire frequently 

 met with in the ilcepest copj)er mijits. lu this 

 cir<:umstauce Ikis crip-inatcu j!;e error of raanv 



