MINES OF SARDINIA. J47 



X. 



On (lie Mines of Sardinia: hy the CoMnf De Vargas, Pre-^ 



sident of the Italian Academy^ ^c* 



T 



HE district of Barbagia and the province of Ogliastro Primitive 



are coniposed of granitic mountains^ which extend in the "lountains of 

 form of amphitheatres from the seashore to the summit of ^"^ '"'** 

 Corruboi. These districts display to the mineralogist a vast 

 and instructive study of primitive mountains. 



Other chains are of secondary formation, and their rami- Secondary 

 fications traverse the islaud in different directions. At mouatains. 

 every step they exhibit phenomena, which cannot but throw 

 much light on geology. 



Lastly, many volcanic productions are found in the vi- volcanic pro- 

 cinity of Guisos, Santa Catharina de Pitturni in the territory ductions. 

 ofCuglierijandSaa Lussurgiu. 



But what pai ticularly deserves attention is the great ^ 

 number of metalHc veins, which are seen every where in 

 great profusion. All the historians of Sardinia have spoken 

 of this abundance of metallic ores. They were known fronri 

 the remotest antiquity, for the remains of the labours of 

 the Carthaginians and Romans in working them are still 

 to be seen. 



Formerly, no doubt, gold mines were worked in the qoj^ jnjngj^ 

 island, since one of the interior provinces still bears the 

 name of the Gold Country ; but none are now known there. 



Silver mines abound more or less in almost all the pro- silver mines, 

 vinces. The mountain of Argentiera de Nurra exhibits 

 another very distinct vein, nearly a mile long. This 

 vein is of gray silver ore: its gangue is barytes. The vi- 

 cinity of the sea, and abundance of wood in this part, are 

 deserving attention. Horn silver is found in several places, 

 as at Sarabus. Native silver too occurs, as near the bridge 

 of San Nicolas, mixed with vitreous or sulphuretted silver. 

 All the lead mines too contain more or less silver. There silver mixed 

 are some near the river Maggiore at Sarabus, which yield as irith lead^ 

 much as eight or nine ounces in the hundred weight, 



• Journal de Physique, vol. LXVII, p. 357. 



L 2 Others 



