9 6 



The Production, t$c. 



Now in and upon thefe matters, dug out of the 

 earth, all kinds of pyrites are often very evidently 

 feen \ tho' not fo frequently on bones, at leaft fo 

 far as my experience reaches ; a thing not to be 

 wondered at, feeing they are not fo common as pe- 

 riwinkle and mufcle fhells are 5 the fame alfo holds 

 good of wood, which is not fo well adapted for 

 mineralifation. To conclude the bufinefs of the 

 generation of the pyrites^ and of ores in general : 

 they are not all of them to be afcribed to the rirft 

 day of the creation ; confequently, nothing hinders 

 their being frill produced at this day. 



I have ftill to add, that the generation of 

 ores appears in fome meafure to me in the fame 

 light, as that of vegetables and animals. In fome 

 meafure, I fay : For (i.) ores flied no formal feeds, 

 from which, with the concurrence of a proper ma- 

 trix, ore is again produced. (2.) Ores, according 

 to their internal mixtion, have no fixed period of 

 duration, but remain for ever unchanged> if not ex- 

 pofed to external violence, partly, on account of 

 their peculiar unchangeable manner of mixtion ; part- 

 ly, their bedding, from which the air and warmth 

 thofe grand inftruments of deftrudtion are ex- 

 cluded. Whereas vegetables and animals have their 

 deftined periods, tho* flretched out cvei fo long, 

 from the tendernefs of their mixtion and texture : 

 but fo far only I make the refemblance to hold, as 

 in the vegetable and mineral kingdoms, fome die, 

 and others again revive. 



CHAP. 



