very rare in Britain. The fiffures moft common in Britain are the perpendicular and inclined, whatever art their direction be. The perpendicular and horizontal fiffures, (Mr Price fays,) remam little altered from their, firft pofition, when they were formed at the induration of the ftrata immediately after the waters left the land. The perpendicular fiffures are more commonly fituated in level ground, at a distance from hills, and from the fea fhore; but with regard to the latter, the upper and under maffes of ftrata differ in their fulidity and properties. "Hence (fays Mr Price) it is plain, that inclined fiffures owe their deflection to fome fecondary cause, violence, or fubfidence of the earth: for though perpendicular fif-fures are feldom to be feen, yet fuch as are inclined at very confiderable depths become more and more perpendicular, as the more central ftrata, by reafon of the vast fuperincumbent weight, do not feem fo likely to be driven out of their pofition as those which lie nearer the surface." The fiffures are often met with fractured as well as inclined; the reafon of which, Mr Price thinks, has been a fubfidence of the earth, from fome extraordinary caufe. "The original pofition (fays he) must have been horizontal, or parallel to the furface of the earth: but we often find thefe Arata very fenfibly declined from the firft pofiton; nay, fometimes quite referved, and changed into perpendicular. When we fee a wall lean, we immediately conclude that the foundation has given way, according to the angles which the wall makes with the horizon; and when we find the Lake declination in ftrata, we may conclude, by parity of reafon, that there has been a like failure of what fupported them, in proportion to that declination; or that whatever made the ftrata to fill fo much awry, must also cause every thing in cluded in thofe ftrata to fall proportionably. Wherever the greateft fubfidence is to the N. the top of the lode or fiffure will point to the N. and of confequence underlie to the S. and vice verfa: the flide or heave of the lode manifefts the greater fubfidence of the ftrata; but the fame lode is frequently fractured and heaved in feveral places: all of which, by due obfervation, will show us they were occafioned by fo many several shocks or fubfidencies, and that the ftrata were not unfooted, fhaken, or brought to fall once only or twice, but several times."

(3.) MINES, GENERAL DESCRIPTION OF THE METALLIC VEINS IN. Mr Price obferves, that though the metallic veins generally run from E. to W. they are frequently interfected by veins or der of other matters, which run from N. to S. Some of these crofs veins contain lead or antimo07, but never tin or copper. Sometimes one of thefe unmetallic veins intersects the true ne at tight angles, fometimes obliquely; and fometimes the mixture of both is fo intimate, that the moft expert miners are at a lofs to difcover the feparated part of the true vein. When this laft is intercepted at right angles, it is moved, either N. or 8. a very little way, perhaps not above a fathom; in which cafe, having worked to a small diftance in one of these directions, if they find themselves difappointed, they turn to the other hand, and feldom fail of meeting with what they expected. Some

times they are directed in their fearch by the point ing of a rib or ftring of the true vein; but when the interruption happens in an oblique direction, the difficulty of finding the vein again is much greater. When two metallic veins near each other run in an oblique direction, and meet together, they commonly produce a body of ore at the place where they interfect; and if both are rich, the quantity will be considerable; but if one be poor and the other rich, then both are either enriched or impoverished by the meeting. After fome time they feparate again, and each will con tinue its former direction near to the other; but fometimes, though rarely, they continue united. It is a fign of a poor vein when it feparates or diverges into ftrings; but when several of them are found running into one, it is accounted a promifing fign. Sometimes there are branches without the walls of the vein in the adjacent ftrata, which often come either obliquely or tranfverfely into it. If these branches are impregnated with ore, or if they underlie faster than the true vein, that is, if they dip deeper into the ground, then they are faid to overtake or come into the lode, and to enrich it; or if they do not, then they are faid to go off from it, and to impoverish it. But neither thefe nor any other marks, either of the richness or poverty of a mine, are to be entirely depended upon: for many mines, which have a very bad appearance at firft, turn out extremely well afterwards; while others, which in the beginning feemed very rich, turn gradually worfe; but in general, where a vein has a very bad appearance at firft, it will be imprudent to be at much expenfe with it. Veins of metal are often fo compreffed betwixt hard ftrata, that they are not an inch wide; nevertheless, if they have a ftring of good ore, it will generally be worth while to purfue them; and they often turn out well at laft. It is an encouragement to go on, if the leaders of ore enlarge either in width or depth as they are worked; but it is a bad fign if they continue horizontal without inclining downwards; though it is not proper always to difcontinue the working of a vein which has an unfavourable aspect at firft. Veins of tin are worth working when only three inches wide, provided the ore be good: and copper ores, when fix inches wide, will pay very well for the working. Some of the great mines, however, have very large veins, with a number of other fmall ones very near each other. There are alfo veins croffing one another fometimes met with, which are called contras, vulgarly caunters. Sometimes two veins run down into the ground in fuch a manner that they meet in the direction of their depths;m which cafe, the fame obfervations apply to them which are applicable to those that meet in an horizontal direction. Sometimes a vein fuddenly disappears, by becoming narrower, or of worfe quality; which by the miners is called a fart or leap, and is common in the mines of Cornwall. In one day they may thus be disappointed in the working of a rich vein of tin, and have no further fign of any thing to work upon; at the fractured extremity of their vein they perceive a body of clay or other matter; and the method of recovering their vein is to drive on their work in the direction of the former part, A. 2

io that their new work fhall make the fame angle with the clay that the other part of the vein does. Sometimes they fink a shaft down from the furface; but it is generally a matter of difficulty to recover a vein when thus loft.

(4.) MINES, HISTORY OF THE EARLIEST DISCOVERIES OF. The method of difcovering mines is a matter of fo much difficulty, that it feems furprifing how those who were totally unacquainted with the nature of metals first thought of digging them out of the earth. Lucretius fays, the difcovery was made by the conflagration of woods, which melted the veins of metal in the earth beneath them; and Ariftotle tells us, that fome fhepherds in Spain having fet fire to the woods, the earth was thus heated to fuch a degree, that the filver near the furface of it melted and flowed into a mafs; and that in a fhort time the metallic mafs was difcovered by the rending of the earth in the time of an earthquake. The fame ftory is told by Strabo, who afcribes the difcovery of the mines of Andalusia to this accident. The difcovery of gold has been afcribed to Mercury, Cadmas, Thoas of Thrace, Pifeus K. of Italy, Cacus, and other fabulous heroes; but fchylus attributes the difcovery of all the metals to Prometheus. The brafs and copper mines in Cyprus were firft difcovered by Cinyras, the fon of Agriopas; and Hefiod afcribes the discovery of the iron mines of Crete to the Cretan Dactyli Idæi. The extraction of lead or tin from its ore, in the inland of Caffiteris, according to feveral ancient authors, was difcovered by Midacritus. Mofes, however, afcribes the invention of brafs and iron, or at least of the methods of working them, to Tubal-Cain, before the flood. In later times, mines have been often difcovered by accident; as in fea-cliffs, among broken craggy rocks, by the washing of the tides or floods, alfo by irruptions and torrents of water iffuing out of hills and mountains, and fometimes by the wearing of high roads.

(5.) MINES, METHODS OF DISCOVERING. Mr Price mentions, among other methods by which mines have been difcovered, one by fiery corufcations, ignes fatui, or falling stars, and fays, "The tinners generally fearch with uncommon eagerness the ground over which these jack-a-lanterns have appeared." But this mode of judging of mines has now loft all credit. Mines are now moft commonly discovered by investigating the nature of fuch veins, pres, and ftones, as feem most likely to turn to account: but there is a particular fagacity, or habit of judging from particular figns, which can be acquired only by long practice. Mines, especially thofe of copper, may alfo be difcovered by the harsh and disagreeable tafte of the waters which iffue from them; though this only happens when the ore lies above the level of the water; for it does not feem likely that the tafte of the ore could afcend, unless we were to fuppofe a pond or lake of water standing above it. The prefence of copper in any water is eafily difco vered by immerging in it a bit of polished iron, which will thus inftantly be turned of a copper colour, by the precipitation of the metal upon it. A candle, or piece of tallow, put into water of this kind, will in a fhort time be tinged green.

Another, and still more wonderful method of difcovering mines, is said to be by the virgula divinatoria, or divining rod; which, however incredible the ftories related concerning it may be, is ftill relied on by fome, and among others by Mr Price. It is not known who was the inventor of this method; but Agricola supposes that it took its rife from the magicians, who pretended to discover mines by enchantment. No mention is made of it, however, before the 11th century, fince which time it has been in frequent ufe; and the Corpuscular Philofophy has even been called in to account for it. It is faid to be performed in confe quence of a certain unaccountable attraction which the metals have for rods of nut or other fruit trees. But the account given by Price, which he had from a Mr.Cookworthy of Plymouth, who is faid to have had the first information concerning this rod from one Captain Ribera, a deferter from the Spanish fervice in Q. Anne's reign, and afterwards captain commandant in the garrifon of Plymouth, is fo very incredible, not to add, unintelligible and unphilofophical, that we think it unneceffary to quote it; and fhall therefore leave it to be inveftigated from Mr Price's work, by fuch of our readers (if any fuch there be) as have faith in the obfolete and occult fciences of Aftrology, Enchantment, and Magic.-Another, and very ancient mode of difcovering mines, but extremely difficult and precarious, is that called foding; that is, tracing them by loose ftones, fragments, or fhodes, which may have been feparated and carried off to a confiderable distance from the vein, and are found by chance in running waters, on the furface of the ground, or a little under. "When the tinners (says Mr Price) meet with a loose single ftone of tin ore, either in a valley, or in ploughing or hedging, though at 100 fathoms diftance from the vein it came from, those who are accustomed to this work will not fail to find it out. They confider, that a metallic ftone muft originally have appertained to fome vein, from which it was fevered and caft at a diftance by fome violent means. The deluge, they fuppofe, moved most of the loofe earthy coat of the globe, and in many places washed it off from the upper towards the lower grounds, with fuch a force, that most of the backs or lodes of veins which protruded themselves above the fast were hurried downwards with the mafs: whence the kill in this part of their business lies much in directing their measures according to the fituation of the furface." Afterwards, however, our author complains, that this art of fhading, as he calls it, is in a great measure loft. The following account of a method of finding filver mines, by Alonzo Barba, feems to be fimilar to that of fhoding: " The veins of metal (fays he) are fometimes found by great ftones above ground; and if the veins be covered, they hunt them out after this manner; viz. taking in their hands a fort of mattock, which has a iteel point at one end to dig with, and a blunt head at the other, wherewith to break ftones, they go to the hollows of the mountains, where the current of rain water descends, or to fome other part of the skirts of the mountains, and there obferve what ftones they meet with, breaking in pieces those that seem to have

any

any metal in them; whereof they find many times both middling fort of ftones and fmall ones alfo of metal. Then they confider the fituation of that place, and whence these ftones can tumble, which of neceffity must be from higher ground, and follow the tract of them up the hill as long as they can find any of them," &c. Another way (fays Mr Price) of discovering lodes, is by working drifts across the country, as we call it, that is, from N. to S. and vice verfa. I tried the experiment in an adventure under my management, where I drove all open at grafs about two feet in the shelf, very much like a level to convey water upon a mill wheel: by fo doing I was fure of cutting all lodes in my way; and did accordingly discover five courses, one of which has produced above 180 tons of copper ore, but the others were never wrought upon. This method of difcover ing lodes is equally cheap and certain; for 100 fathoms in fhallow ground may be driven at 5os. expense." In that kind of ground called by our author feasible, and which he explains by the phrafe tender-fanding, he tells us, that "a very effectual, proving, and confequential way is, by driving an adit from the lowelt ground, either N. or S. whereby there is a certainty to cut all lodes at 20, 30, or 40 fathoms deep, if the level admits of it. In driving adits or levels across, N. or S. to unwater mines already found, there are many fresh veins difcovered, which frequently prove better than those they were driving to."

(6.) MINES, NECESSARY CONSIDERATIONS AFTER DISCOVERING, After the mine is found, the next thing to be confidered is, whether it may be dug to advantage. To determine this, we are duly to weigh the nature of the place, and its fituation, as to wood, water, carriage, healthinefs, and the like; and compare the refult with the richness of the ore, the charge of digging, stamping, washing, and fmelting. The form and fituation of the spot fhould be well confidered. A mine muft either happen, 1. In a mountain; 2. In a hill; 3. In a valley; or, 4. In a flat. But mountains and hills are dug with much greater cafe and convenience, chiefly because the drains and burrows, that is, the adits or avenues, may be here readily cut, both to drain the water, and to form gangways for bringing out the lead, &c. lo all the four cafes, we are to look out for the veins which the rains or other accidental thing may have laid bare; and if fuch a vein be found, it may often be proper to open the mine at that ~place, especially if the vein prove tolerably large and rich; otherwise the most commodious place for fituation is to be chofen for the purpose, viz. seither on a flat, nor on the tops of mountains, but on the fides. The beft fituation for a mine is a mountainous, woody, wholesome spot, of a safe eafy afcent, and near a navigable river. The places abounding with mines are generally healthy, as tanding high, and everywhere expofed to the air; yet fome places where mines are found prove poisonous, and can upon no account be dug, though ever fo rich: the way of examining a fufpected place of this kind, is to make experiments upon brutes, by expofing them to the effluvia, to difcover their effects. Devonshire and Cornwall, where there are many mines of copper and tin

are very mountainous; which gives an opportu nity to make adits or fubterraneous drains to fome valley at a distance, by which to carry off the water from the mine, which otherwife would prevent them from getting the ore. These adits are fometimes carried a mile or two, and dug at an expense of from 2000l. to 4000l. especially where the ground is rocky; and yet they find this cheaper than to draw up the water out of the mine quite to the top, when the water runs in plenty, and the mine is deep. Sometimes, indeed, they cannot find a level near enough, to which an adit may be carried from the very bottom of the mine; yet they find it worth while to make an adit at half the height to which the water is to be raifed, thereby faving half the expenfe. The late Mr Coftar, confidering, that fometimes from fmall ftreams, and fometimes from little fprings or collections of rain water, one might have a good deal of water above ground, though not a fufficient quantity to turn an overfhot wheel, thought, that if a fufficient fall might be had, this collec tion of water might be made useful in raising the water in a mine to the adit, where it may be carried off. But now the moft general method of draining mines is by the fteam engine. See STEAM ENGINE.

(1.) * To MINE. v. n. [from the noun.] To dig mines or burrows; to form any hollows underground.-.

The mining coneys shroud in rocky cells. Wotton. Of this various matter the terreftrial globe confifts, from its furface to the greateft depth we ever dig or mine. Woodward's Nat. Hiftory.

(2.)* To MINE. v. a. Tofap; to ruin by mines; to destroy by flow degrees, or fecret means.While rank corruption, mining all within, Infects unfeen. Shakefp. Hamlet. They mined the walls, laid the powder, and rammed the mouth; but the citizens made a countermine. Hayward.

MINEGAHANE, a town of Ireland, in the county of Kerry, Munster.

(1.) MINEHEAD, an ancient borough of Somerfetfhire, with a harbour in the Bristol channel, near Dunfter caftle, much frequented by paffengers to and from Ireland. It was incorporated by Q. Elizabeth, with great privileges, on condition of keeping the quay in repair; but its trade falling off, the quay was neglected, and the privileges were loft. A ftatute was obtained in the reign of William III. for recovering the port, and keeping it in repair; and the quay was rebuilt. In pur fuance of another act, a new head was built to the quay, the beach cleared, &c. fo that the biggest thip may enter, and ride fafe in the harbour. The town contains about 500 houses and 2000 fouls. It was formerly governed by a portreve, and now by two conftables chofen annually at a court-leet, held by the lord of the manor. Its chief trade is with Ireland, whence about 40 veffels ufed to come hither in a year with wool; and about 4000 chaldrons of coals are yearly imported at this place, Watchet and Porlock, from South Wales; which lies directly oppofite to it, about 7 leagues over, the common breadth of this channel all the way from Holmes to the Land's End. Here are

feveral

feveral rich merchants, who trade alfo to Virginia and the West Indies; as well as to Barneftaple and Bristol. Herrings, which come up the Severn in great shoals about Michaelmas, are caught, cured, and 3 or 4000 barrels annually shipped off for the Mediterranean, &c. The market is on Wed. and fair on Whitfun-Wednesday. Mine head is 31 miles N. of Exeter, and 161 W. by S. of London. Lon. 3. 34. W. Lat. 51. 12. N. (2.) MINEHEAD, a cape of Ireland, on the SW. coaft of Waterford; 4 miles SW. of Helwick. (3.) MINEHEAD, a township of Vermont, in Effex county, on the Connecticut.

MINELLIUS, John, an eminent Dutch gram, marian, critic, and philologift, born at Rotterdam about 1625. He publifhed editions of Virgil, Ovid, and several other Latin claffics, with notes. He died in 1683.

MINEO, a town and lake of Sicily, in the valley of Noto.

*MINER. n.. [mineur, Fr. from mine.] 1. One that digs for metals.

1

By me kings palaces are push'd to ground, And miners crush'd beneath their mines are found. Dryden. 2. One who makes military mines. As the bombardeer levels his mischief at cities, the miner bufies himself in ruining private houses. Tatler.

MINERE. See MINERALOGY, Part I. (1.) * MINERAL. adj. Confisting of foffile bodies. By experience upon bodies in any mine, a man may conjecture at the metallick or mineral ingredients of any mass found there. Woodward.

(2.) MINERAL. n. f. [minerale, Latin.] Foffile body; matter dug out of mines. All metals are minerals, but all minerals are not metals. Minerals, in the reftrained sense, are bodies that may be melted, but not malleated.

She did confefs, she had For you a mortal mineral. Shak. Cymbeline. -The minerals of the kingdom, of lead, iron, copper, and tin, are of great value. Bacon to Vill.

Part hidden veins digg'd up, nor hath this earth

Entrails unlike, of mineral and stone. Milton. -Minerals; nitre with vitriol; common falt with alum; and fulphur with vitriol. Woodward.

(3.) MINERAL, in natural history, is ufed in general for all fotfile bodies, whether fimple or compound,, dug out of a MINE; whence the denomination. See MINE, N° III. § 1—6; and MINE

RALOGY.

(4.) MINERAL ACIDS. See ACIDS; and CHEMISTRY, Index.

(5.) MINERAL ALKALI. Sce ALKALI, § 2—4; and CHEMISTRY, Index.

(6.) MINERAL PITCH. See CHEMISTRY, Index. (7.) MINERAL SPRINGS, or All waters natu(7.) MINERAL WATERS. rally impregnated with any heterogeneous matter which they have diffolved within the earth may be called mineral waters, in the most extenfive meaning of that name; which might therefore comprehend almost all thofe that flow within or upon the earth, for almost all these contain fome earth or felenites. But waters containing only earth or felenites are not generally called mineral, but hard or crude wa ters. Thefe, when chemically analyfed, fhow no

marks of an acid or alkali, nor of any volatile, fulphureous, or metallic matters. Waters which contain calcareous earth change the colour of fyrup of violets to a green; and those that contain felenites, being mixed with a folution of mercury in nitrous acid, form a turbith mineral; and when a fixed alkali is added, they are rendered turbid, and a white fediment is precipitated. These wa ters do not diffolve foap well. Any water which produces thefe effects is a hard, earthy, or felenitic water. The waters impregnated with gafes are also hard. Although the waters of the fea and faline fprings be not generally enumerated amongst mineral waters, they might nevertheless be justly confidered as fuch; for befides earthy and felenitic matters, they alfo contain a large quantity of mineral falts. But mineral waters, properly fo called, are those in which gas, or fulphureous, faline, or metallic fubftances, are difcovered by chemical trials. As many of thefe are employed fucceffively in medicine, they are also called medicinal waters. Mineral waters receive their peculiar principles by paffing through earths containing falts, or other mineral fubftances in a ftate of decompofition. Some of these are valuable for the quantity of useful falts which they contain, particularly of common falt (fee SALT); and others for their medicinal qualities. "All waters (fays Dr Thomfon, in his Syftem of Chem. Vol. III. p. 376.) which are diftinguished from common water by a peculiar fmell, tafte, colour, &c. and which, in confequence of these properties, cannot be applied to the purposes of domestic economy, have been called mineral waters. Thefe occur in different parts of the earth, conftituting wells, fprings, or fountains; fometimes of the temperature of the foil through which they pafs, fometimes warm, and in fome cafes even at the boiling temperature."

(8.) MINERAL WATERS, ATTEMPTS MADE TO ANALYSE. "Mineral springs (continues the Dr) attracted the attention of mankind in the earliest ages, and were reforted to by those who laboured under diseases, and employed as a medicine. But it was not till towards the end of the 17th century that any attempt was made to detect the ingredients of which these waters were compofed, or to discover the fubftances to which they owed their properties. Mr BOYLE may be confidered as the firft who pointed out the method of examining water. He first ascertained the existence of air in it, and pointed out a number of tefts, by which conjectures might be made concerning the faline bodies which the water held in folution. In 1665, Dominic Du Clos attempted to examine the mineral waters in France. He employed almost all the re-agents recommended by Boyle, and added feveral of his own. In 1680, Hierne published a fet of experiments on the mineral waters of Sweden. Soon after, various improvements were introduced by Regis, Didier, Burlet, and Homberg; and in 1726, Boulduc pointed out a method of precipitating feveral of the faline contents of water by alcohol. But it was not till after the difcovery of carbonic acid by Dr Black, that any confiderable progrefs was made in afcertaining the compolition of mineral waters. That fubtile acid, which is fo often contained, and which ferves as a

folvent