BOOK III. 



65 



In the next place, venae profundae differ not a little in the manner in 

 which they intersect, since one may cross through a second transversely, or 

 one may cross another one obliquely as if cutting it in two. 



If a vein which cuts through another principal one obliquely be the 

 harder of the two, it penetrates right through it, just as a wedge of beech or 

 iron can be driven through soft wood by means of a tool. If it be softer, the 

 principal vein either drags the soft one with it for a distance of three feet, or 

 perhaps one, two, three, or several fathoms, or else throws it forward along 

 the principal vein ; but this latter happens very rarely. But that the vein 

 which cuts the principal one is the same vein on both sides, is shown by its 

 having the same character in its foot walls and hanging walls. 



A — Principal vein. B — Vein which cuts A obliquely. C — Part carried away. 

 D — That part which has been carried forward. 



Sometimes venae profundae join one with another, and from two or 

 more outcropping veins*, one is formed ; or from two which do not outcrop 

 one is made, if they are not far distant from each other, and the one dips 

 into the other, or if each dips toward the other, and they thus join when they 

 have descended in depth. In exactlv the same way, out of three or more 

 veins, one may be formed in depth. 



*Crudarns. Pliny (xxxiii., 31), says : — " Argenti vena in summo reperta crudaria 

 appellatur," "Silver veins discovered at the surface are called crudaria." The German 

 translator of Agricola uses the term sylber gang — silver vein, obviously misunderstanding the 

 author's meaning. 



