[a] Altho’ Minerals, Metals and Stones lie in Beds, and have done so ever since Noah’s Flood, if not from the Creation; yet it is greatly probable that they have Power of growing in their respective Beds: That as the Beds are robbed and emptied by Miners, so after a while they recruit again. Thus Vitriol, Mr. Boyl thinks, will grow by the Help of the Air. So Alum doth the same. We are assured (he saith) by the experienced Agricola, That the Earth or Ore of Alum, being robbed of its Salt, will in tract of Time recover it, by being exposed to the Air. Boyl’s Suspic. about some Hid. Qual. in the Air, p. 18.
[] As to the Growth of Metals, there is great Reason to suspect that also, from what Mr. Boyl hath alledged in his Observations about the Growth of Metals: And in his Scept. Chym. Part 6. pag. 362. Compare also Hakewil’s Apol. pag. 164.
And particularly as to the Growth of Iron, to the Instances he gives from Pliny, Fallopius, Cæsalpinus, and others; we may add, what is well known in the Forest of Dean in Gloucestershire: That the best Iron, and most in Quantity, that is found there, is in the old Cinders, which they melt over again. This is the Author of the Additions to Gloucestershire in Cambd. Brit. of the last Edition, p. 245. attributes to the Remissness of the former Melters, in not exhausting the Ore: But in all Probability it is rather to be attributed to the new Impregnations of the old Ore, or Cinders, from the Air, or from some seminal Principle, or plastick Quality in the Ore it self.
[c] As for the Growth of Stone, Mr. Boyl gives two Instances. One is that famous Place in France, called Les Caves Goutieres: Where the Water falling from the upper Parts of the Cave to the Ground, doth presently there condense into little Stones, of such Figures as the Drops, falling either severally, or upon one another, and coagulating presently into Stones, chance to exhibit. Vid. Scept. Chym. pag. 360.
Such like Caves as these I have my self met with in England; particularly on the very Top of Bredon-Hill in Worcestershire, near the Precipice, facing Pershore, in or near the old Fortress, called Bembsbury-Camp; I saw some Years ago such a Cave, which (if I mis-remember not) was lined with those Stalactical Stones on the Top and Sides. On the Top they hung like Icicles great and small, and many lay on the Ground. They seemed manifestly to be made by an Exsudation, or Exstillation of some petrifying Juices out of the rocky Earth there. On the Spot, I thought it might be from the Rains soaking through, and carrying with it Impregnations from the Stone, the Hill being there all rocky. Hard by the Cave is one or more vast Stones, which (if I mistake not) are incrustated with this Sparry, Stalactical Substance, if not wholly made of it. But it is so many Years ago since I was at the Place, and not being able to find my Notes about it, I cannot say whether the whole Stone is (in all Probability) Spar, (as I think it is,) or whether I found it only cased over with it, notwithstanding I was very nice in examining it then, and have now some of the Fragments by me, consisting, among other shining Parts, of some transparent angular ones.
The other Instance of Mr. Boyl, is from Linschoten, who saith, that in the East-Indies, when they have cleared the Diamond Mines of all the Diamonds, In a few Years Time they find in the same Place new Diamonds produced. Boyl. Ibid.
[d] It is not only agreeable to Reason, but I am told by Persons conversant in digging of Wells throughout this County of Essex, where I live, that the surest Beds in which they find Water, are Gravel, and a coarse, dark coloured Sand; which Beds seldom fail to yield Plenty of sweet Water: But for Clay, they never find Water therein, if it be a strong, stiff Clay; but if it be lax and sandy, sometimes Springs are found in it; yet so weak, that they will scarcely serve the Uses of the smallest Family. And sometimes they meet with those Beds lying next, under a loose, black Mould, (which, by their Description, I judged to be a sort of oazy, or to have the Resemblance of an ancient, rushy Ground,) and in that Case the Water is always naught, and stinks. And lastly, Another sort of Bed they find in Essex, in the clayie-Lands, particularly that part called the Rodings, which yields Plenty of sweet Water, and that is a Bed of white Earth, as though made of Chalk and white Sand. This they find, after they have dug through forty, or more Feet of Clay; and it is so tender and moist, that it will not lie upon the Spade, but they are forced to throw it into their Bucket with their Hands, or with Bowls; but when it comes up into the Air, it soon becomes an hard white Stone.
Thus much for the Variety of Beds wherein the Waters are found. That it is in these Beds only or chiefly the Springs run, is farther manifest from the forcible Eruption of the Waters sometimes out of those watery Beds. Of which see [Chap. 4. Note (k).] This Eruption shews, that the Waters come from some Eminence or other, lying at a Distance, and being closely pent up within the watery Stratum, by the clayie Strata, the Waters with force mount up, when the Strata above are opened.
[e] V. Dr. Woodward’s Essay, Part 2. Steno’s Prodr. &c.
[f] Id. ib. pag. 28. and 74. But Dr. Leigh in his Nat. History of Lancashire, speaking of the Coal-pits, denies the Strata to lie according to the Laws of Gravitation, saying the Strata are a Bed of Marle, afterwards Free-Stone, next Iron-Stone, then Coal, or Kennel-Mine, then some other Strata, and again Coal, &c.