SECTION XIIL
Account o f fome Mines, in Scotland.
F r o m Carlifle I paffed to MofFat, noted
for its baths and mineral fprings. Hence
%
to, Elvanfoot bridge, and to Lead Hills, a*
mineral country belonging to Lord Hopton.
The mountains are compofed of what is
improperly called whinftone, for it feems
father a filiceous Ihiftus, or perhaps a kind
of bafalt; it is of a very dark brown colour
and very clofe texture, fmell earthy when
breathed on, fraCture fplintery, and irre-?
gular; is very hard, gives fire with fteel,
and is very ponderous.
The
The veins of lead ore are in general
large, and extremely rich. The fufian’na
Vein is the admiration of travellers, being
a great rake vein, which in fome places
has continued for a confiderable way,
14 feet wide of folid ore. It is now full
three feet wide ; and an amazing quantity
js before the miners. This mine is about
100 fathoms deep, with a fire engine, not
mow employed., a fufiicient quantity of water
having lately been procured to work the
water engines, fo as to keep the bottom dry.
There are many other- veins, and in general
rich; in fome parts are veins of a
granitic varieties of a frefh red colour, containing
cubic pyrites : they appear in all directions
when they approach the veins of
lead ore ; they do dot interfeCt or divide
them, but continue their direction, forming
the gangart on each fide, they are
from a few feet to 35 yards wide, interfeCt