MINERALOGY. 103 



d. Metallic ores are those which have the three pro- 

 perties of fire, are superlatively heavy, yielding light or 

 colour, and fusible. 



506. The Earths are to be regarded as the proper total 

 earth-element, namely as carbon neutralized by oxygen. 

 The Salts are to be regarded as combinations of the earth- 

 and water-elements ; therefore as combinations of carbon 

 with oxygen and hydrogen. The Inflammables are to be 

 regarded as combinations of the earth-element with the 

 air-element, thus of carbon with hydrogen, which supplies 

 the place of nitrogen. The Metals are to be regarded as 

 combinations of the earth-element with the fire-element ; 

 therefore as carbon without any other body, only com- 

 bined with spiritual actions, namely gravity, light and 

 heat. Hence the apparent simplicity of metals, and the 

 great number of special properties, which are absent in 

 the other classes. 



DEVELOPMENT OF THE CLASSES. 



507. As there is not simply a single earth, salt, In- 

 flammable and metal, but in each class many of them ; 

 we have to inquire what is the groundwork of their 

 further distinctions or of their systematic division. Here 

 also may we go to work again chemically and philoso- 

 phically. 



a. Chemical Division. 



The Metals , chemically regarded, do not admit of 

 being separated into constituent parts. They exhibit 

 only physical differences in gravity, colour, hardness, 

 malleability, conducting power, tension or their mutual 

 polarity. If it be endeavoured to arrange them accord- 

 ing to these respects, nothing but disorder results. The 

 same is the case in reference to their affinity for oxygen, 

 sulphur, the acids and other metals. Rather more order 

 is at once displayed if their philosophical composition, 

 namely as carbon and fire, be submitted to our conside- 

 ration. 



