2 54 Of the Principles 



But as to ores themfelves, it is not credible that 

 any one of the above three ways is that by which 

 they are generated : ' to begin with the third ; we 

 find, indeed, fuch, not only cryftalliform, poly- 

 gonal, prifmatical, &c. forms, both in ftones and 

 ialts, but alfo in drufe, lying immediately on Hone 

 and bottoms, formed by cryftallifation, as might 

 incline us to think both the ore and flone to be 

 generated at once, and in the very fame manner. 

 But it cannot be conceived alfo, that metallic 

 earths, fuch as belong to the formation of ores, 

 mould be fuppofed to be diflblv.ed by meer water, 

 feeing we have neither example nor experiment to 

 that purpofe, as we have for the production of 

 dritfe. 



Why then muft things, lying upon and near 

 each other, be fuppofed to be produced together, 

 and in one and the fame manner ? When Jinter 

 comes to fettle, the drifts and fhafts, where it is 

 ufually produced, are not full, but empty of wa- 

 ter ; but cryftallifations happen not without wa- 

 ter : and from fight we learn fuch apertures to be 

 as feldom, after the generation of the pyrites on the 

 /inter, full of water, as before in the generation of 

 the Jinter itfelf they could pofTibly be. 



As little can the fecond way be genuine, whilft, 

 as was laid, common water is incapable of bearing 

 up fuch heavy particles as the. metallic are ; I will 

 not fay in fuch a degree of diflolution.and rarefac- 

 tion, as there are no inftances to fupport the afifer- 

 tion, but in fuch quantity as would be needful for 

 the production of the fuppofed ore ; feeing, by the 

 Icaft degree of reft, they fhould feparate again like 

 a (lime or Jludge. In a word, between water and a 



crude 



