51 



abound with marbles of various kinds, and of almost 

 all colours ; but their observations were too super- 

 ficial to afford me a correct description. 



In the plains near the city of Coquimbo, at the 

 depth of three or four feet, is found a white testa- 

 ceous marble, somewhat granulated. It is filled with 

 shells of the snail kind more or less entire, which 

 give it the appearance of shell work. The quarry 

 is several miles in extent, and generally about two 

 feet in thickness, but varying according to the num- 

 ber of strata, which are from five to eight, frequent- 

 ly inteiTupted by very thin layers of sand. These 

 strata increase in hardness in proportion to their 

 depth ; the upper consists wholly of a coarse brittle 

 stone, which is only proper for lime ; but the marble 

 of the others is very compact, requires but little la- 

 bour to dig, and after a short exposure to the air, 

 obtains a degree of solidity and firmness sufficient 

 to resist the injuries of the weather. 



Spar, a substance common to all metallic mines, 

 and which often serves as a guide to the miners, to 

 determine the character of the ore, abounds in Chili, 

 where all the known species have been discovered 

 excepting the crystal of Iceland. Of these species 

 the varieties are infinite, and many of them, if exa- 

 mined attentively, might be found to be real and 

 distinct species. Coloured spar, known by the names 

 of false emerald, topaz, and sapphire, is one of the 

 species most frequently met with. But the most 

 curious of all the Chilian spars is one of an hexago- 

 nal form, and perfectly transparent ; it is found in the 



