242 Of the Gold 



thing comes nearer in nature and virtue than aife- 

 nic. And I would fain know why, or whether 

 by chance it happens, that the native gold in the 

 ore of Goldejlhal is never found near the yellow, 

 hut always near the white pyrites, nay, immediate- 

 ly fitting, and, as it were, glued thereon •, and 

 again, why found in quartz among JJjiver? 



This gold-earth, which pyrites and other ores 

 yield, as a formal gold, mult doubt lefs be in proper 

 weight and meafure ; and that, fnould it belong ei- 

 ther to the Elver, the copper, or arfenic, not all 

 the Elver, copper, or arfenic, would turn to a 

 gold-earth, but in a certain proportion what is fitted 

 fo to do. Whence I draw the following conclu- 

 fion, comprifing all I have hitherto faid, and which 

 deferves to be obferved : that if this meafured or 

 proportioned quantity of earth be already proxi- 

 mately prepared, and fuch a gold earth, as only, 

 like a gold reduced by arc to an earth, wants the 

 fatty proportion to its metallifation, it is educible 

 by feparation in the common way of proof, with- 

 out any further treatment: but if not an actual 

 gold-earth, but mult firft be reduced to fuch •, we 

 cannot in that cafe lay, pyrites holds gold : and 

 fhould more ' than two different parts of pyrites, 

 nay other foreign matters employed, contribute to 

 the ground -mixtibn of d\ch gold-earth, we mud 

 the rather adopt the terms, introduction, produc- 

 tion, tranfmutation, &c< and drop that of ft pa- 

 ration. 



It need not be wondered, that I have dwelt (o 

 long on this queftion, as it includes another-, viz, 

 whether art may not become ajjiflant to nature ? .And 

 fo far as this laft regards not only a matter of truth, 

 but of utility too, fo far does the other defer ve to 



be 



