Gazetteer of Scotland

INTRODUCTION. 4
fiifnes, containing coins of Scottifh gold, were prefented to the guefts by way
of defert ; and it appears by the public records, that in one year there was
coined in the mint of Scotland 48,0001. fterling of Scottifh gold. No mines
•are now wrought folely for filver ; but the lead mines are exceedingly rich in
that metal. In the laft century, a rich filver mine was wrought in the Ocbil
i>ills, jn the pariih of Alva. Ironftone, iron ore, and feptaria ironftone, arc
abundant. Copper has been difcovered in many places. Of late, a very rich
mine of antimony has been opened in Wefterkirk, in Dumfries-mire, fuppofed
£0 be richer than any at prefent known in the world. The other metallic fub-
ftances, hitherto difcovered, are cobalt, bifmuth, manganeze 3 wolfram, plum-
bago, and mercury ; the latter in very fmall quantities. It is more than pro-
bable, that much metallic wealth ftill remains hid, as very few of the metals
are found in a pure ftate : they are in general in\the liate of an o'xyd, like
earth in appearance, without any metallic luftre, and hence they do not rea-
dily attract notice 5 and it is certain, that the difcovery of mines has been in
moft inftances merely accidental. Coal is abundant in the fouthern and mid-
dle diftricts ; but little or none has been yet difcovered N. of the Tay. Lime-
itone, freeftone or fandftone, and flate, are found in every diftricT: in the
greateft abundance. Of late, too, fome attention has been paid to the mar-
bles, which prove no way inferior in colour or polifh to thofe of Italy. Moft
of the gems and precious ftones have been found in Scotland, the diamond
excepted. Pearls are found in the great horfe mufcle (the mytilus cygnius and
anatimu), a native of the northern rivers; they are alfo found in the common
oyfters and common mufcles, though of fmall fize. The fapphire is found
in feveral places, of different fhades, from a deep red to a tranfparent white,
and of equal hardnefs with the oriental. The topaz is found in many of the
Highland mountains, particularly the Cairngorm, and in Goatfield in Arran :
they are generally named Cairngorm Jlones, from the former mountain, and
are of various hues, and generally in hexahedral cryftals. The ruby and
hyacinth are found near Ely, in Fifefhire, mixed with the fand on the fea
fhore, and adhering to the rocks : they are in general of inferior luftre, and
of fmall fixe. Emeralds are found in feveral places ; and artiethyfts are pretty
frequently met with, particularly in the mountain of Locbnagaraidb in Aber-
deenfhire : fome of thefe are an inch in diameter, of good colour, and valued
at 30 or 40 guineas each. Garnets are found in many places of the Highlands,
of good fizes, and in confiderable quantities. Agates, carnelians or Scots
pebbles, are abundant, and well known : they are no where equalled in beauty
or variety. Jafpers of various kinds are met with in almoft every diftricl ;
b 3