( 319 ) 
characters , that diftinguifli one fort from another ? 
6 4. What proportion of Metal it affords? ( As in our Iron- 
mines *tis oblerved, that about three Tuns of Iron-ftone will af- 
ford one Tun of Metal : And I have had Lead-Ore , which an 
Ingenious man ? to whom I recommended fuch Tryals, affirm'd 
to me to afford three parts in four of good Lead.) 
6 5. Whether the Ore be pure in its kind from other Metals, 
and, if not, of what Metals it participates $ and in what pro- 
portion ■? Which is efpeeiaily to be inquired into , in cafe 
the Mine be of a baft metal , that holds a noble meuf " 
(As l have known it obferv’d , that Lead-Ore , that is poor 
in its own metal , affords more Silver , than other 3 and! re- 
member, that the Ore lately mention’d, being rich in Lead, 
icarce afforded us upon the Cuppel , an A tome of Silver. And 
Matthefius informs us, that a little Gold is not Unfrequentl}/ 
found in Iron -0 re. And I have by me fbme Gold 5 that never 
endur’d the Fire , taken out of a Lump of Tia-pre. ) ' 
About the fixth Title . 
66 . What are the mechanick and previous Operations, as 
Beating, Grinding, Walking, &c, that are ufed to feparate 
the Ore from the Heterogeneous Bodies, and prepare it for the 
Fire ? Or whether the Ore requires no fuch preparation ? ( as it 
often happens in Lead, andlbmetimes in Iron, &c, ) 
67. VVhether Mercury be made ufe off, to ex trad the nobler 
from the baler metals ? ( as is their pradice in Vem , and other 
parts of the IVeji-lndies.) 
68. Whether the leaving the Ore expos’d to the open Air 
and Rain fora good while, be ufed as a Preparative? (as! 
have feen done in Iron-ftone- ._) 
69. Whether the Burning and Beating of the Ore be uled 
to, prepare it for the Furnace ? ( as is pradifed in Iron , and al- 
moft always in Copper :) And, in cafe they ufe it more than once, 
how often they do it 3 ( for, Copper-Ore is in lome places waffled 
8.01*10. times, and in others, 12. or 14.) and with what cir- 
cumftances 3 as, how long the Ignition lafts at a time , whether 
the Ore be (offer’d to cool of it felf , or be quench’d ? whether 
it be waihed betwixt each Ignition ?' 
, 70, What Flux-powders , and other ways they have to try 
Z 2 and 
