54 Kr BEDS 



pyrites ; but not by means of fire, but of the wea- 

 ther, both that above and under the earth •, as we 

 may often fee, in the greateft perfection, in copper- 

 ore flags, or fcoria, after having lain long expofed 

 on heaps in the air. Further \ fuch pyrites is found 

 accompanied with Belemnites, fo that the inhabi- 

 tants called it falfe gold ; tho' I leave it a matter 

 undetermined, how far it deferves the title of a 

 gold Marcafite (a). The abovementioned author 

 has with it performed all the experiments of light- 

 ning, and found the metallic globules melted from 

 it, to caufe in the hand the very fame burning that 

 real lightning does, namely, a fmarting, yet with- 

 out any ftains, or other hurt ; alfo, in falling 

 dowr;, to fet blotting-paper on fire. 



From what has been faid, it may be ufefully 

 obferved, that a great deal of attention is requifite, 

 in forming general conclufions, and axioms, even 

 after a vafl number of experiments have been 

 made. It is extremely remarkable of the copper 

 pyrites ore, that it is never to be met with in lime- 

 fcone, gypfuni-ftone, alabafter, and the like : 

 confequently, that the nature of the flone and 

 earth may ferve, if not as a matrix, to contribute 

 to, or lay the foundation for, the generation of 

 ores, yet, at leaft, often to impede their produc- 

 tion. Were there no inftance of a copper ore in 

 fhiver, where, notwithstanding it is in great plenty 

 (fo very peculiarly fitted may the fatty, flimy fhi- 

 ver-earth be for the conception of copper ore) and 

 in fpreading fquats^ it could not fairly be thence 

 concluded to be in none. So in regard alfo to 

 lime-fione and fand-fbone, wherein it is never 

 found, we might eafily imagine copper-ore never 

 was, nor now is produced vein-wife, but all of it 



ori- 



(a) Majoris menioiiale anatoinico-mifcellaneum, obf. 3 . j. 4. 

 17. ieq 



