NATURAL HISTORY OF GOLD.

159

GOLD.

PART LIV.

SECT. I.

NATURAL HISTORY OF GOLD

'VjrOLD is found in nature only in a metallic state ; most com-monly in grains, ramifications, leaves, or rhomboidal, octahedral,or pyramidical crystals. Its matrix is generally quartz, sand-stone, siliceous shistus, &c. It is found also in the sands of manyrivers, particularly in Africa, Hungary, and France, in minuteirregular grains, called gold-dust. Native gold, found in com-pact masses, is never completely pure ; it is alloyed with silveror copper, and sometimes with iron and tellurium. The largestpiece of native gold that has been hitherto discovered in Europewas found in the county of Wicklow, in Ireland. Its weightwas said to be 22 ounces, and the quantity of alloy it containedwas very small. Several other pieces, exceeding one ounce, have