154 ONTOLOGY. 



731. But two cases also are conceivable, in accord- 

 ance wherewith this polarity of the vein admits of being 

 divided. It subsists either quite alone between the two 

 walls, as surface-polarity or electricity; or it subsists 

 between the mediate point of the earth and the walls, 

 constituting centro-peripheric polarity or magnetism. 



732. The product of the surface polarity are the In- 

 flammables, of the radial polarity the metals. 



733. Since no more metals and Inflammables origi- 

 nate at the present day, although magnetism and electri- 

 city are in continual operation ; a third influence more- 

 over must have been in constant activity. Now this cannot 

 be thought of as any other than heat. The metals must 

 thus have originated while the earth was still in a glow- 

 ing state, and when thus also magnetism and electricity 

 could operate more powerfully towards effecting a reduc- 

 tion of the mass. By heat the mass in the veins was 

 probably converted into gas, through which its separation 

 by means of magnetism and electricity into ore and tran- 

 sition earth could more easily take place. The metals 

 are thus sublimations, which were first deposited, when 

 the earths or rather the mountain-stock began to cool. 

 Thus also zeolithic crystals were deposited in the upper 

 stores of mines. Metals are thus the children of heat, 

 of magnetism and electricity ; the heat renders the mass 

 in a fit state for being separated in the next place by the 

 polar forces. 



734. Metal is carbon completely reduced, which con- 

 tains nothing more of the other elements in itself, namely, 

 neither hydrogen nor oxygen. It is consequently the 

 Basic of the earth-element without material admixture, 

 and thus is earth with the properties of its prototype, of 

 fire or of gravity, of light and of heat. 



735. In accordance with this interpretation metal can 

 be produced by no other process than the centro-peripheric. 

 Its occurrence in fissures of the earth that are mostly 

 perpendicular likewise proves this. 



736. In the deeply situated veins, therefore, the more 

 identical or purer formations of ore must occur ; while, 



