CHAP. XII. 



Of the G o l d in the P y r i t e s. 



IF filver hath no great fhare in the pyrites, gold 

 has (till much lefs : I, for my part, find little 

 or none therein, though nothing be more common 

 in the mouths of men than the names, gold-pyrites* 

 gold- mar cafue. It is, I own, no fmall pain to me, 

 to be obliged to contradict what fo many ingenious 

 and learned perfons before me have afferted to this 

 purpofe \ however, I cannot help expofing fuch 

 pretences, feeing even what actual gold, after the 

 greateft care and attention, we may happen to pro- 

 cure from pyrites, proves very inconfiderable, and 

 next to nothing; and then it may be queried, whe-. 

 ther it was actually in it, or produced by means of 

 the procefs and additions, 'Tis abfurd to pretend, 

 in fupport of the common opinion, the volatility 

 of this gold, as it may be afked, what the appear- 

 ance, and what the figns are, by which it may be 

 diftinguifhed ? We have, 'tis true, volatile metals, 

 in particular, the common and philofophical leads ; 

 nay, all metals may be volatilifed. 



But it will be alledged, there is no catch- 

 ing this volatile gold, in an open fire 5 but may 

 not fubliming velTels be employed, by means 

 of which, a little of what the violence of the 

 fire forces off may be recovered in order to 

 trial ? But, to fave my reader a good deal 



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