100, and the quantity of lead extracted annually amounts to about
32O0O lb., i f I understood correctly the statement of Mr. Billow. The
vein o f copper ore is likewise wrought; but the quantity o f that metal
obtained at Sala is trifling. The vein o f iron ore is not wrought at all.
The galleries in the mine are all at least six feet high, and some of them
very lofty. The water is raised from the mine by means of forcing
pumps. There is a considerable stream o f water that runs by the
mine, sufficient to work all the machinery, the construction o f all of
which, as far as I observed it, was very well calculated for the objects
in view. I do not give any description o f the method of washing the
ore, o f smelting it, and of refining it, in order to extract the silver,
because I observed nothing particular in any o f these processes, and
lead mines are so common in Great Britain, that their processes must be
familiar to the greater number of my readers. I thought, however,
that the Swedish process was not the best possible for the intemst of
the proprietors o f the mine: the product in lead is too much sacrificed
to the product o f silver ; whereas the lead itself seems to be an
object o f greater importance than the silver, as far as emolument goes.
The mine of Sala was originally a royal mine, but at present it belongs
to the town o f Sala.
I carried a letter from Assessor Gahn at Fahlun to Mr. Gtrstavus
Billow, the mine-master at Sala, and was received by him in consequence
With the greatest politeness and attention. With him I spent
the principal part o f the day, and he greatly facilitated my examination
Of the environs by carrying me at once to-all the spots best calculated
for seeing the structure of the country. He showed me likewise an
accurate map of the mine and its environs, which had been constructed
from an actual survey, and which served very materially to
give me more precise ideas respecting the nature of the mine, and the
structure of the country. Mr. Billow had an excellent collection of
the minerals peculiar to Sala. This collection I examined with care,
and was thereby enabled to form more accurate conclusions respecting
the produce of this mine than my short stay would otherwise have enabled
me to do. For though I went down into the mine, my labour
was but ill compensated. Mr. Billow was unwell, labouring under a
pulmonary complaint, and had been expressly forbidden by bis physicians
to descend into the mine. My own servant was panic-struck at
the idea of descending to such a depth in a bucket, and obstinately refused
to venture: I was therefore reduced to the necessity of descending
alone without any other companion than a Swede, who did not understand
a word of English; so that I was unable to ask any questions,
or get an explanation of many things, the reason o f which I did not
fully understand.
I shall now notice the principal minerals which occur in the mine of
Sala, with specimens o f almost all of which I was presented by the
polite attention o f Mr. Billow.
1. By far the most abundant mineral is granular limestone, which
constitutes the bed in which all the metallic veins occur. It varies in
colour; font most commonly is greenish, I was particularly struck with
the beauty of this limestone, which was exposed to view in great abundance
both at the mouth o f the mine and in all the neighbouring fields,
-where it composed the walls raised for enclosing them. Misted with
lead ore I observed some pieces o f calcareous spar; but in no great
■quantity. It varied in its colour, for I observed specimens white,
green, red, and yellow.
2. ‘Crystals o f gypsum in no great quantity. I did not see any o f
them in situ; but was told that they occurred in the same vein that
-contained the galena, and that they were found only at a considerable
depth. This is a curious .circumstance. I am not aware that crystals
-of sulphate o f lime have been .observed accompanying galena in any
other place.
3. Bitter spar. All ithe specimens that I saw were compact masses
without any appearance o f crystallization. Tou may easily detect
them by their permanent phosphorescence; a quality which I mentioned
before.
4. Sulphate c f barytes. This mineral occurs in .no great quantity.
It has a yellowish colour, and is commonly mixed with mountain cork
and limestone. Most usually it is compact, though I saw some sped