222 Of the Gold 



not from native gold, or other accompanying veins, 

 feeing the proportion would, in that cafe, prove 

 various and inconftant ; and then the queftion will 

 be, whether the gold be produced from it ? 



Now when there is gold in pyrites, and I would 

 procure it, the body of the pyrites muft neceffarily 

 be deftroyed, ceafing to be what it was, and in 

 part commencing a different thing, a new pro- 

 duction, mixtion, and compofition -, as we have 

 a convincing inftance to this purpofe in vitriol, a 

 matter not lodged in, but produced from pyrites. 



In the firft place, I fpeak of fuch deftructions 

 as happen per fe, without the addition of other 

 matters; for inftance, common and corrofive wa- 

 ters, falts, oil, fulphur, &c poured, rubbed, or 

 mixed in varioufly, though not without all mate- 

 rial influx of the air and fire: (2.) of fuch de- 

 ftructions as are commonly called procejfes, where- 

 in, along with pyrites, are mixed- in feline, ful- 

 phureous, mercurial, and arfenical matters, alfo 

 metals and femi-metals, which have ufually fome 

 effect: (3.) I would afk, whether there may not 

 be methods, where, from the running together fit 

 particles, there may not, by means of action and 

 re- action, impregnation, and conception, new fub- 

 flances, forms, and productions be procured ; and 

 thus fomething of gold be procured, that neither 

 Was in the fubject, nor in the additions. Now, 

 (1.) as to the deftructions happening without any 

 palpable additions, and the concurrence of any- 

 other matter, which might be held as barely in- 

 ftrumental, without the fufpicion of any material 

 influx on the mixtions, as the lead on the copel, 

 not certainly to be regarded with the common eye 

 of an affayer -, the depart water, which, in its ha- 

 bitude 



