358 
THK GEOLOGIST. 
veins abounds with this looseness and inaccuracy, I take the present 
opportunity of giving a few definitions on the subject, which I shall 
continue as occasion may require. 
Definitions relating to Veins and Metalliferous Deposits. 
I. Enghsh miners commonly say that such and such a rock con- 
tains no numeral, meaning thereby that it contains no metallic 
mineral, or mineral of the useful metals. As all rocks consist of 
minerals, of course such an expression is incorrect. In speaking of 
the minerals of the useful metals they should be described as metallic 
minerals or ores. 
II. As all rocks consist of minerals, it is evident, when the ex- 
pression mineral-vein is applied exclusively to those veins containing 
ores, that such limitation is also incon'ect. Mineral-veins are uni- 
versal in eveiy formation, but ore-veins only are generally valuable 
to man. Rock-veins also occur. The following are definitions of 
these tliree classes of veins : — 
Rock-Veins are fissures filled up with such mineral aggi'egates as 
also occur in large masses as rocks ; as for example, granite, elvan, 
gi'eenstone, or sandstone. 
Mineral-Veins, on the other hand, are fissures filled up with 
minerals, or combinations of minerals, such as do not occur as rocks; 
as for example, crystallized fluor-spar, baryte, quartz, &c. 
Ore-Veins are either mineral-veins or rock-veins, in which ores are 
always present. 
HI. From these definitions it appears that ores may occur in rock- 
veins as well as mineral-veins. They may also occur in rock-masses 
which are not veins, but may be heels, or stocks, which latter is the 
German word for an ore-containing rock-mass that is neither a vein 
nor a bed. Stocks are divided into 
StjVNDING-Stocks, iiTcgular ore-containing rock-masses with some- 
thing vein-like in their character ; 
Lying-Stocks, the same, Avith something of a bed-like character. 
Beds are accumulations of ore, or of rock-masses containing ore, 
lying parallel to the stratification in stratified rocks. 
IV. The expressions mineral-veins and metallifero'ns de-posits are 
