1T8 
Mmeralogical Report respecting Elba. 
In many places the rock has crumbled into a common clay, in 
which the quartz crystals are scattered unaltered. 
Advancing towards Rio along the sea-shore, we pass the salt- 
works of Portoferraio. The hills are still composed of argilla- 
ceous schistus, covered at the summit by limestone. Rio itself 
stands upon, a hill, in which the schistus and limestone are dis- 
posed in alternate beds. 
Between Rio and Portolongone the only subject of interest is 
the mine of Terra Nera^ which lies to the south-east of the lat- 
ter city. 
Between Longone and CapolLveri lies the plain of Mola, 
which, although the most fertile soil in the island, is abandoned 
to stagnant waters, and consequently to malaria^ which renders 
it uninhabitable. 
Capoliveri stands upon an argillaceous schistus, over the sur- 
face of which lie fragments of serpentine and limestone. In the 
vicinity is the Mente Calamita, or mountain of loadstone, so fa- 
mous all over Europe, and which, if well managed by the go- 
vernment, would alone insure a subsistence to the wretched in- 
habitants of the island. 
In the district of San Peiro, to the west of Capoliveri, is the 
great granite quarry of Sacchetto, whence, it would appear, that 
the ancients drew many of their columns. Three of the columns 
in the portico of the Parthenon, are of a similar stone. There 
still exist on the spot, in an unfinished state, several columns in- 
scribed Oper-a Pisana, and a basin of great diameter. 
Marciana is built upon the prolongation of the Granite Moun- 
tains, now sinking under the schistus. The mountains inland 
from it are the highest in the island, and so rugged as to be 
nearly inaccessible. Proceeding round to Portoferraio, we find 
nothing but the argillaceous schistus. 
Small as the island is, it contains mhierals which might pro- 
duce an immense revenue. 
Its mines of gold and silver may be overrated, but the granite 
and marble quarries are of immense value, and copper and sul- 
phate of iron form two lucrative branches of trade. The load- 
stone of Capoliveri, and the iron of Terra Nera, might be work- 
ed to any extent, did not the government throw obstacles in the 
way of exportation. 
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