143 



TAB. CCCLXXVI. 



CUPRUM nativum. 

 Native Copper. 



Class 3. Metals. Order 1. Homogeneous. 

 Gen. Copper. Spec. 1. Native. 

 Div. 2. Imitative (wire-like.) 



Perhaps this formation would never have been expected in 

 Native Copper by the tyro in Mineralogy j and it is indeed 

 very scarce. The rounding branches irregularly disposed, 

 inosculating with their bluntish terminations and rugged 

 rusty appearances, might be taken at first sight for a number 

 of pieces of Iron wire aggregating so confusedly by means 

 of rust : however, in colour it approaches to Copper, and 

 may by scraping be easily distinguished, having the softness 

 and red metallic lustre. It is rather remarkable, that the 

 branches, if I may so ^call them, are sometimes so much 

 coalesced as to join apparently in a continuous manner; at 

 others they seem attached, as if pressed one against another 

 and stuck together ; and some parts of the sides and ends 

 terminate as if they once had been joined to others, some 

 being blunt and roundish, and others having a small con- 

 cave disk. 



I have placed another branched specimen, having the 

 branches six-sided and somewhat irregularly cut, resembling 

 an endeavour to do it with a knife, and so are somewhat 



