2$2 Of the Principles 



(15.) No genuine ore is procurable from iron, 

 efpecially in the form of a pyrites; for, as to the 

 factitious pyrites, for which antimony is employed, 

 it is in parts highly antimonial, and thus of a 

 mixtion unlike what is native, feeing antimony is 

 never obferved to be in -pyrites •, or, it will be a 

 fort of fcorias, or flags, where the iron, after the 

 precipitation of the regulus, combines along with 

 the fulphur, and exhibits fomething refembling an 

 ore, without appearing yellowifh, like an ore con- 

 iiiling of iron and fulphur, as in the fulphur-pyri- 

 tes. Befides, in the abfence of the falts it falls 

 not to pieces, but remains firm and lading; and 

 yet it is affected by the air, though not in the way 

 of vitriolifation, fuch as the air ufually effects in 

 genuine fulphur pyrites, We come ftill nearer to 

 nature here, when for the fulphuration of iron, 

 inftead of antimony, we employ a pure lead- ore, 

 under which operation lie concealed fome practi- 

 cal truths. 



Now it is poflible there may be fome better means 

 of bringing metals and metallic earths back again 

 to their native ore-form, as the ways of trial in 

 nature are fo endlefs, that it is not poflible to de- 

 vife, much lefs perform them all \ we muft not 

 therefore, from a mifcarriage in an intended expe- 

 riment, directly conclude the impoflibility of the 

 thing : yet it follows not, that nature, in her for- 

 mation of the pyrites, proceeds in the very fame 

 manner that art does ; but, from the circumftances 

 hereafter to be alledged, there is no fmall probabi- 

 lity, but that to the ground- work of pyrites, as of 

 other ores in general, not mixts, but fimples or 

 principles contribute •, that is, not matters already 

 proximately prepared for parts of pyrites, but un- 

 determined 



