MINERALOGY. | 
the condition in which they are noV/ found Will 
permit ; for, with regard to fuch bodies as are im- 
polTible to be analyfed or totally decompounded^ 
no account needs to be given of the principia or 
primary atoms, which have concurred to their 
formation j fince it may with confidence be af- 
ferted, that the Creator made only one kind of 
matter, from which every thing we meet with in 
this world has been produced. 
Minerals have been defined as bodies that grow 
by external aggregation of particles ; but this defi- 
nition, on reflexion, will hardly be found fufficient 
and adequate ; becaufe the circles produced by the 
annual ftagnation of the fap in the wood of a tree^ 
and the coats or crufts of a ftaladites, are effefts 
nearly refembling one another. Should it be faid 
that the particles on which the yearly growth of a 
tree depends, are not carried by the water, and 
merely depofited between the bark and the parts of 
the preceding year now become folid^ but that they 
are juices fecreted from the interior parts thro’ the 
pores of the tree ; I could likewife ftiow inftances 
in the mineral kingdom, that feem plainly to in- 
dicate fome procels has happened fimilar to the 
formation of the callus in a fradured bone i al- 
though this happens only at a certain age of the 
rock : and who knows whether this obfervation 
or procefs does not hold good alfo in the animal 
and vegetable kingdoms ? But this ftill remains 
too great a problem in regard to the mineral 
kingdom ^ and we cannot therefore adopt the ex- 
prefs meaning of the circulation of any juices,” 
fince we have another refuge left, that is, jhrinking 
or contra^ion^ and e^prejjion or fcjiieezing^ of which 
more will be faid hereafter. ,We take more no- 
tice perhaps of v/hat happens in the animal and 
Vegetable kingdoms, becaufe v/e are ourfelves 
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