OEIGIN ANB DEVELOPMENT OF ORE-DEPOSITS. 57 



270-lb8. weight of refined silver ; in 1294, for521J-lbs ; and in 

 1295, for 704-lbs. 1'his silver was probably obtained almost 

 exclusively from argentiferous lead ores. 



In Cornwall, according to Carne, true silver ores (native 

 silver) were first found in Wheal Mexico (Perranzabuloe) about 

 the year 1778, but it did not pay to work them. The next dis- 

 covery was at Wheal Herland, in 1801, when £8,000 worth, 

 chiefly native silver but with some sulphide and arsenide, was 

 raised from an intersection of the vein by a cross-course. In 

 1810 a discovery in a similar situation was made at Dolcoath, 

 and £2,00G worth of ore was taken out in a short time. Other 

 discoveries were made as follows : — 



1812. At Wheal Brothers and Wheal Duchy, near 

 Callington, about £3,000 worth of native silver, ruby silver and 

 the gray and black sulphides were taken from a cross-course 

 running N.E., S.W. 



1813. At Wheal Alfred a discovery of native silver of con- 

 siderable value was made. The same year some silver-ore was 

 got from a cross-course at Wheal Bassetfc. 



Other discoveries were made, in 1814, 1815, &c. in various 

 parts of the county. 



1861. This year the official mineral statistics were begun 

 by Mr. Robert Hunt, and though always incomplete, yet they 

 have been continued from year to year ever since, with more 

 and more approach to completeness. The following entries 

 appear in the period from 1861 to 1882 : — 



598 19 20 £34,088 9 9 



