MINES OF SCHEMNITZ. 389 
Gipsies of Transylvania and JValachia obtain gold chap. 
dusty by washing the sands of their rivers. The ' „ y > 
Conseiller assured us that the profit from a single 
wash-house is so great, that it has, in many 
instances, entirely suspended the labours of 
mining; in order to attend solely to this branch 
of revenue. 
The most beautiful minerals of Schemnitz, Minerals 
(those, indeed, which may be considered as nUz.'^^*'^' 
almost peculiar to its mines,) are amethysts; 
invested by efflorescent j^ear/-A/)«r, in a minute 
crystallization upon the surface of the amethystine 
crystals. The most valuable are those rich 
sulphurets of silver, called by the Germans, fVeis- 
gulden Erz'; which is so malleable, that medals 
have been struck from the un wrought ore, in 
honour of regal visitants ; particularly of Augustus 
the First of Fo LAS T>^. We saw several collec- 
tions of minerals from the Schemnitz mines; and 
they all contained more or less of this ore. 
(1) Literally signifying, " White-money ore" because silver is coined 
from it. This ore is also called Glaz Erz; which means shining or 
vitreous ore: but the name is often improperly translated Glass-ore. The 
sulphuret of silver is found abundantly in the Stephano-schadt mine of 
Schemnitz. 
(2) It consists of eighty-five parts of pure silver, combined with only 
fifteen of sulphur; being so fusible, that it melts even in the flame of a 
candle. 
