60 



Chili, where it is found in great quantities upon the 

 Campana, a high mountain in the province of Quil- 

 lota, and is known by the same name. This pyrites 

 is of a cubical figure, and contains a mixture of gold 

 and copper mineralized with sulphur. It emits but 

 â very few sparks with the steel, a circumstance 

 which distinguishes it from all the other species. 



Sect. %l. Semi-metals. — -All the known kinds 

 of semi-metals are met with in Chili, and are found 

 either in mines by themselves, or combined with 

 metallic ores, and generally in a state of minerali- 

 zation. But the working them is neglected or pro- 

 hibited, and antimony is the only one sought for, 

 as it is necessary for refining the precious metals. 

 This mineral is discovered under various forms, as, 

 the red antimony combined with arsenic and sul- 

 phur, the striated and the compact, all of which are 

 found in mines of gold, silver, iron and lead. One 

 mine alone has furnished crystallized antimony. 



The digging of quicksilver is rigorously prohib- 

 ited in consequence of its being a royal monopoly. 

 It is found in a metallic form, or mineralized with 

 sulphur under that of cinnabar. The two richest 

 mines are in the provinces of Coquimbo and Copia- 

 po, from whence vast quantities might be obtained 

 if it were permitted to work them, the greater part 

 of which would probably be sold in the country it- 

 self, as much is required for the amalgamation of 

 - the precious metals. The mine of Coquimbo is in 

 one of the midland mountains. The bed or matrix 



