

MINERALOGY 99 



hydrogen in the Salts. According to this view, the classes 

 would succeed each other thus : 



1. Ores. 



2. Inflammables. 



3. Earths. 



4. Salts. 



Now, as the earths here intervene between the Inflam- 

 mables and salts, it is at once seen that the series is 

 incorrect ; for the earths form by far the largest mass, 

 and must therefore constitute the groundwork or basis 

 of Mineralogy, and thus stand at the commencement. If 

 all metals, Inflammables and salts were to be deducted, 

 the globe of the earth would still lose but little of its 

 magnitude. 



493. This chemical division admits thus of no strict 

 arrangement, since what are called minerals follow each 

 other unnaturally. Meantime the chemical view admits 

 also of a philosophical treatment and amelioration of the 

 serial order. It may be said that the earth consists of 

 much carbon, little oxygen and very little hydrogen, 

 without any other element. Salt, of little carbon, much 

 oxygen and little hydrogen, together with water. The 

 Inflammables of little carbon and oxygen, much hydro- 

 gen, besides air. Ore, of much carbon, little hydrogen, 

 and still less oxygen with fire. As the fire or the aether 

 is imponderable, so do the three elemental bodies appear 

 blended together into one apparently simple body, with 

 which gravity, light as lustre, heat as spirit and the con- 

 duction of heat, are only spiritually combined. 



494. But this view leads directly to the genetic divi- 

 sion, as the only true one, to that, namely, which has 

 been based upon the mutual influence of all the ele- 

 ments. It is itself : the ultimate cause or foundation of 

 chemical division. 



495. There can accordingly, as there are only four 

 elements, be only four kinds of minerals. The Earthy 

 either continues unchanged, or it is changed by water, 

 air and fire. 



496. When the earth-clement originates or separates 

 itself from the water, in order to free itself from all the 



