FORTlA’s TRAVELS IN SWEDEN.
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cf finding green and blue porphyry, dependant on the form of the pebbles, which aremet with in abundance. On this fpot and in the neighbourhood rock pebbles arealfo found, red jafper, filicious breches or pouddingues, among others one of deep brownporphyry, with knots of pale red. A quantity of granite, not fo handfome as that ofthe neighbourhood of Stockholm . The ftcne is tranfported on fledges during the win-ter, and in fummer oil waggons, as far as Wefteros, where it is embarked for Stock-holm .
We (hall enter into a detail of this interefting eftabiifliment. The direction of it onthe fpot is committed to a very capable perfon, (Mr. Hagftroeum,) for whom care Ihouldbe taken to be provided with letters of recommendation. There are a hundred menemployed by the day, befides a-great number who work by the piece in chipping theblocks. A labourer’s pay is from fix to nine fchillings per diem. The work effectedin the firft years of the eftabiifliment can afford no juft idea of its poflible perfection,fince the expence of the different parts of the procefs is to be regarded, the mills, laws,polilhing machines, &c. The method ufed for feparating the porphyry is the fame as isadopted in Italy . The pieces are traced with fteel pointed inftruments, which are after-wards feparated by wedges driven by main force. At this manufactory all forts of uten-fils are made, tables, vafes, mortars, in one word you may have made whatever youwill by ordering it at the office eftablilhed for the purpofe at the mint at Stockholm . Atable of thirty-fix inches by eighteen, cofts 30 rix-dollars ; twenty-five by feventeenone-third, 18 rix-dollars, of which 12 are paid for workmanlhip; eighteen by twelve,9 rix dollars, the workmen are paid 6. A vafe of eighteen inches perfectly well turn-ed and hollowed, cofts 40 rix-dollars ; of fourteen inches, 26 rix dollars; of twelveinches, 25 rix-dollars; the prices are rather below thefe at prefent. Small articles arein the fame proportion, although in general the larger coft but little more on the fpot;thus the latter afford a profit of at leaft 50 per cent, while the former pays no morethan 4 or 6. This eftabiifliment deferves minute attention. The traveller Ihould con-trive to plan his excurfion fo as to have it take place either in fummer or the feafonfor fledges; although in the latter the fnow will prevent the fight of a number of in-terefting objefts, particularly the ftone at Mora. Soon as the thaw begins this road isimpaffible. You have to return to Fahlun by the fame road. On the way you mayvifit the copper mine of Mortamberg , in the parilh of Rattvick , which has been but re-cently opened. In it you find copper ore of a grey colour ; fometimesin azure, green,yellow and lightilh yellow cryftals; mountain green; galena Jn fmall quantities ; mar-tial pyrites; mineral pitch ; very flender druzes of quartz ; white quartz ; calcareousfpar ; potter’s ftone ; and amianthus in flender veins. In walking through theparilh of Rattvick you often find folid calcareous ftones filled with petrifactions, fuch asorthocerathites, fometimes replete with mineral pitch, and calcareous fpar, frequently incryftals ; Ihells and corals of different forts, and very rare lithnites. From Mortam-berg you may proceed to Self berg, where a fmall vein of galena is worked, which is ina flight degree argentiferous. The vein yields galena, red and yellow blend, lapis cala-minaris, calcareous fpar, breche of calcareous ftone, and black Hate, fometimes mixedwith galena; and lumachelle, or calcareous ftone mingled with petrified Ihells, withwhich alfo a portion of galena is fometimes blended. From Silfberg to Ofmundfberg,a pretty confiderable mountain, containing folid calcareous ftone; idem , in form ofballs, impregnated with petroleum, and occafionally hollow, and lined infide with cal-careous fpar in druzes j fluid, yet thick petroleum; bituminous Hate, frequently full ofminute petrifactions; blue clay, containing a flight portion of filver; fuller’s earth }and martial pyrites.
We
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