COPPER. 
509 
the same time the most productive. Mr. Coxe in- 
forms us that the mine is private property, and con- 
sists of 1200 shares, each worth 150 rixdollars, or 
37/. 10s. Four times a week the ore is divided, 
eleven equal heaps are formed; eight are distributed 
among eight of the proprietors, and the three re- 
maining heaps are sold by auction, to defray the 
expenses of the mine and to contribute towards 
making new excavations. The ore, which consists 
of pyritous copper, is first roasted in the open air to 
deprive it of the sulphur, and there smelted ; after 
this operation has been repeated five times, it is 
brought to the public office and weighed. The 
proprietors then receive their shares and the king 
his duty, after which the remainder, consisting of 
rather more than a twentieth part, is appropriated 
towards the machinery and other incidental ex- 
penses of the mines. 
This mine, which extends 1200 feet in length, 
and 700 in breadth, exhibits an enormous mass of 
copper ore, nearly in a vertical situation, and point- 
ing from the north-west to south-east. It is en- 
crusted in a kind of slate, and the mountain which 
contains the mine is composed of micaceous horn- 
stone. Twelve hundred workmen are employed ; 
six hundred of which are miners, and the rest at- 
tend to the smelting of the ore, the making of char- 
coal, and to every thing that is required to be done 
above-ground, 
t( The morning after our arrival at Fahlun,” says 
Mr. Coxe, “ we visited the mine, and descended as 
