The Germans, for a long time, got out of this mine,
about five or fix hundred quintals per annum, lent it
from Plan to Touloufe, where it was embarked on the
canal o f Languedoc, and then by Lyons and Strafburg,
forwarded to their own manufactures. After they had,
in a manner deflowered the mine, and got as much ore
as they could eafily extract, it was probably no longer
an objetft of intereft, and then they abandoned it, which
happened a few years before I arrived there, in 1753.
Impatient to vifit this mine, I went to it immediately
on my arrival at Plan, and found many Ihafts iri all that
part o f the mountain, for as cobalt does not run ufual-
ly in veins, the Germans had tried different places,
wherever they thought they could get i t . moft readily.
On examining thefe ihafts, I found feveral pieces of good
cobalt, of a finer grain, and the blueilh grey colour,
lighter, than that of Saxony. I cannot give an idea of
it, to thofe who have not feen it, nor teach them, to diftin-
guifh it from other metals, of the fame colour, as without
ocular infpetftion, explanations are to very little purpofe ;
however, I fhall juft add, that moft of the lumps of cobalt
I found here, were contiguous to a kind of hard
flate,as glolfy as if they were varnifhed, with fpots, of the
colour o f a dried rofe, without touching the cobalt, though
it was as muchexpofed to the moifture as the flate : nor
have thefe rofe coloured fpots, either grown livelier, or
paler,
paler, during the many years I have had them in my cabinet.
Thefe fpotted plates may ferve as a direction to
fetch as are employed in fearch of this mineral ; for my
part, I could not make any further obfervations with ex-
acftnefs, as the excluiive charter was ftill in force, and
they watched my motions with jealoufy, therefore was
obliged to be fatisfied with the obfervations I had made,
without excavations, and quitted Spain about that time.-
Should the f Spaniards ever think ferioufly o f Cobalt,
as it exifts in this mountain, and- probably in
other parts o f the kingdom, as well, as in America, I fhall
add the following dire&ions for its difcovery, not intending
it for the ufe o f cftemifts by profeffion,- who are not
in any need o f it, but only fdr miners, who have never
feen any Cobalt, or for fireh, who, having no judgment
in ores, conclude that all matter which: is weighty, and
yellow, muft certainly contain gold, filver., or other
precious metals.
I f the heavy grey ftone which they find, is united!
with the- gloify black flate abovementioned, there is no
doubt, but that it is cobalt, of which that flate is the
blend. I f the ftone is quite detached from the flate,-draw
lines on it with, a pointed iron, and if the lines appear to
be black, it is a ftrong indication o f its-being, cobalt,:
for greater fecurity, break the ftone, and reduce it.in—
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