of the Pyrites; i| 



not generally made ufe of, and has often been inju- 

 dicioufly applied, to fignify pyrites, if it be confi- 

 dered, that many fpecies of pyrit<e powerfully at- 

 trad; the air, which is the molt natural fort of vi- 

 triolifation, this appellation, derived from their 

 magnetical quality, will not appear altogether un- 

 juft\ or improper. 



Bernh. Casfius §, and Feftus Pompeius, feem to 

 have been deceived by appearances, and to have 

 meant a pyrites, by what they have called an Au- 

 richalcum foflile, or a native foffile brafs. Ulyftes 

 Aldrovandus Jias clearly difcovered the miftake 

 of the latter; a miftake, that nothing but a pro- 

 found ignorance in mineralogy could have occa- 

 fioned. 



Igniarius, lapis luminis, fire- (tone, light- done," 

 are names more juftly appropriated to kies, or py- 

 rites ; feeing by a fmart fudden ftroke againft fteel, 

 tiiey emit fparks of fire and light, that manifeft 

 themfelves by the accenfion of gunpowder, tinder, 

 or fuch matters. However, pyrita differ in this 

 refpedt, according to their contents; thofe that 

 partake molt of copper, afford the feweft fparks, 

 and by how much more they are impregnated with 

 iron and fulphur, the mod •, though even the white 

 arfenical pyrites, or miffpickel, that yields no ful- 

 phur, will exhibit fome fire. 



From hence the Germans have given to pyrites 

 the name of Euchen-fiein, fire- lock- ftone, as it was 

 formerly ufed for fire-locks : but in order more 

 effectually to anfwer this purpofe, care mould be 

 taken to chufe fuch as are the hardeft, moil denfe, 

 and capable of being worked into a proper form. 



Mart-, 



S L.I. eg p. 130. 



|| Quando Feftus Pompeius fcripfit aurichalcum. in montibus 

 naici, proculdubio non eft locutus de aurichalco, arte parato, 

 quod ex asre et cadmia conficitur, fed fortaflis hunc Pyritem 

 incellexit, qui aurichalcum perbelle semulatur. Aldjov. Mu- 

 slim, L VI, c. 3. p. 514. 



