( H2) 



CHAP. VII. 



Of the Co p p e r in the P y r i t e s. 



NEXT to the iron, the principal metallic 

 earth to be looked for, and met with in the 

 pyrites , is copper. Pyrites is never without iron, 

 often without copper, which, next to iron, pyrites 

 moft affects, and which, of all other metals, is 

 the neareit allied to iron - y as may appear from the 

 following remarks, (i.) I own there is no expe- 

 riment extant to afcertain the tranfmutation of iron 

 into copper , though a great deal has been faid to 

 that purpofe ; the error having, at lead, arifen 

 from the vitriolic waters of Hungary, wherein a 

 precipitation, rather than a tranfmutation of cop- 

 per happens by means of iron. As Lohneifs * 

 mentions the like to happen at the Rammelfberg ; 

 and the late M. Heineman, infpeclor at Botten- 

 dorf, made an ingenious imitation to that purpofe ; 

 and I myfelf, but lately, to my great fatisfa&ion, 

 in the tin flock-work at Altenberg. As to the ar- 

 fenical pyrites of Sweden, from Gothe-gruffwan in 

 Weftmanland, which, after fome years expofure 

 in the air, is faid to turn entirely to a copper, this 

 proves to be either a miftake, or a bare hear- fay, 

 without any foundation -f •, yet, I imagine that a 

 tranfmutation among imperfect metals, fuppofing 

 fuch a thing poinble, mould fooneft of all happen 

 between iron and copper. (2.) Copper, next to iron, 



is 



* Berg-buch, p 332. Toll. Epift. Itin.V, p. igz.Wcdel. in 

 Ephim N.C. Dec. I. Ann. VI. VII. 1673, l6 7&- 

 4- Lecpaldi Epift. de Itin. Suecico. p. 82. 



