CHAP. ground. Their loud neighing, echoing along

X.

Stalactites

of Green Vitriol.

the arched caverns, as we ascended from the lower parts of the mine, proved that habit had quite reconciled them to their gloomy abode. Some of them were fat and sleek: and certainly the temperature of the place where they are kept is as high as the most fastidious groom would require for giving to his steeds a shining

coat.

Among the other curiosities of the Fahlun mine, not the least curious are the stalactites of green vitriol, the sulphate of iron, which, in all parts of the works, may be observed in greater or less abundance, hanging either from the arched roofs of the levels, which are constructed in many places with brick-work, or upon the wooden ducts for carrying off the water. This is the substance which the workmen sometimes seek to convey away by stealth: in attempting which, as before mentioned, the mine was carelessly set on fire. It appears either crystallized, or as an incrustation, or in other stalactite forms, sometimes as big as a man's arm'.

The whole of this vitriol, and all the vitriolic water of the mine, are the property of Assessor

(1) Specimens of it were brought away, which are still in the author's possession.

CHAP.

X.

Gahn; and, of course, the removal of these stalactites, without his orders, is prohibited. The manner in which they are produced may be briefly stated: although it be now well known to all chemical readers; a similar process for the precipitation of copper constituting a very profitable part of the works in our own mines, especially at Paris Mountain in the Isle of Anglesea. As in that mine, the water of the mine at Fahlun is impregnated with sulphuric acid, holding copper in solution: but in its passage through the works, whenever it comes into contact with iron, for which the sulphuric acid has a greater affinity, a portion of the iron is dissolved, and copper consequently is precipitated. The liquid sulphate of iron being then exposed to evaporation, is gradually concentrated; and either crystallizes, or appears in beautiful transparent stalactites in different parts of the mine. But the product of this deposit is trifling, compared with the quantity of the same salt which is procured from the vitriol-works on the outside of the mine; to which the water of the mine is conveyed by pumps, as we shall afterwards describe. The Pumps working of pumps, in the profoundest cavities, at such remote distances from the power which maintains their action, is, in all mines, one of the chief objects of wonder to a stranger who

X.

CHAP. descends merely to gratify his curiosity, and is unaccustomed to the view of mechanical contrivances, by which a moving force, so extraordinary in its nature, may be communicated. But in this part of the works, the Swedes are far behind the English: the vast powers of the steam-engine was as yet unknown to them; nothing of the kind having been introduced into their mining establishments.

Mode of

dividing the Ore.

Value of the Shares.

Fahlun mine is divided into twelve hundred different shares, or, as they are here called, "Actions." The instant any ore is raised, a division takes place but to give a full account of the manner in which the division is made, the mode also of defraying the expenses of the mine, together with all its by-laws and regulations, would extend the description far beyond the limits prescribed by a volume of travels. Every thing is conducted upon the best and most effectual plans. A number of shares may belong to the same individual: but their value varies so extremely, that it is not possible to form an average of the yearly value of any one of them. For example; the net profit of a single share at the time of our visit, estimated for the whole year, was not more than sixty rix-dollars; but there have been times when the annual value of

a share has doubled that sum.

It is not every

CHAP.

X.

possessor of shares or "actions" that is allowed to collect his own portion of the ore, or to estimate its value. There are a certain number of persons who are privileged: and these are called Bergsmän; literally signifying "Mountaineers," Bergsmen. but perhaps more properly translated Mineralists, or Miners'. Here, however, it has a higher import. The Bergsman must become qualified for his office, and for the privileges he enjoys: first, by having passed the ordeal of a regular examination; secondly, by the possession of a certain portion of landed property. He must, moreover, have other qualifications, before he can be entitled to the rank of Bergsman. Those proprietors who are not Bergsmän are obliged to let their shares to persons who are of this class, for a certain sum annually. Of the twelve hundred shares, sixty only are Bergsmän; and the whole aggregate of twelve hundred shares is subdivided into seventy-five lots, for the convenience of dividing the ore; each lot of the seventy-five containing sixteen shares. When, therefore, any of the ore is raised, it is divided

(1) In the Dictionarium Anglo-Svethico Latinum of Serenius, printed at Hamburgh in 1734, a mine is called grufwa ; a mineral, malm; and a mineralist, bergsman. In the same work, a mountain is expressed by berg.

X.

CHAP. into twelve portions: and as it is necessary that four of these twelve portions should go to defray the expenses of the mine, the remaining eight portions allow, for the sixteen shares, one half of each portion for every share. The next business the ore; which is

Valuation

of the Lots. is, to estimate the value of

done in the following manner. The four-twelfths which have been set aside for defraying the expenses of the mine are separately put up to auction. At these auctions, nobody but Bergsmän is allowed to bid; and whatever the first lot sells for, is the value of the rest of the eight-twelfths. But should it so. happen, that an inexperienced bidder appreciates too highly the first portion of the four-twelfths, every sharer possessing onesixteenth may compel that person to buy his share likewise at the same price. In the public office belonging to the mine, a regular account is kept of every Bergsman's profits, and of the deductions to which they have been liable; and this fair statement is daily open to public inspection. Of the twelve hundred shares, into which the whole produce of the Fahlun mine is divided, three-fourths are distributed in the town of Fahlun and in the province of Dalecarlia. The remaining one-fourth belongs to proprietors who are dispersed in the kingdom at large, and in other countries; insomuch, that there are per