65 



posing it, when artificially combined. This brittle- 

 ness renders it unfit for any thing but the casting 

 of cannon, bells^ Sec. 



Large quantities of this metal are sent to Spain 

 for the use of foundries, whence M, Bomare has 

 been led to observe, in his Dictionary of Natural 

 History, that the copper of Coquimbo is of little 

 value. The matrix of this ore is a grey sandy stone, 

 easily broken ; and the relative proportions of the 

 copper to the tin vary considerably. 



The malleable copper is found in many of the 

 other provinces as well as Coquimbo ; it possesses 

 every quality requisite in that metal, and is the spe- 

 cies from whence the Chilian copper has principally 

 derived its higli reputation. Its matrix is a soft brown 

 and sometimes white stone; the ore, w^hich is minera- 

 lized with a small portion of sulphur, in its appear- 

 ance and ductility resembles native copper, a sim- 

 ple roasting being sufficient to expel the sulphur 

 and render it malleable and fit for use. The miners, 

 however, refine it in the usual manner, as they pre- 

 tend that by this means it acquires a brighter colour. 

 There is a remarkable affinity between this copper 

 and gold ; those metals are not only always found 

 combined, but veins of pure gold are frequently met 

 with in the deepest copper mines. In this circum- 

 stance has originated the error of many miners, who 

 assert that copper, when it extends to a certain 

 depth, becomes transmuted into gold. The veins do 

 not always preserve the same course, and are fre- 

 quently divided into small ramifications ; and there 



