Native Lead

Native Lead from the Golch Rake mine near Holywell, Flintshire, was presented by Mr. R. Jones in 1811 to the Geological Society, from whence the delineated specimen was borrowed. It is a curious specimen, and perhaps there is less doubt about it than about any before seen, excepting a specimen in the possession of the penetrating Count de Bournon, which he discovered by chance among other minerals: it is mixed with the usual Cubic Galæna and Red Oxide of Lead. The present specimen is tolerably compact, its fracture is granular; square faces are to be discovered in the fracture, which are perhaps owing to a mixture of Galæna. It is so soft as to be cut by the nail. The outside is in some parts covered with what seems to be a whitish Carbonate of Lead, and next to that it is more dense than the inside.

The existence of Lead in a native state has been much doubted, and there is the less chance of its being found native on account of its affinity for Carbonic Acid; and the same would tend to prevent its being found after having been lost long enough to have been forgotten if it should chance to be brought to a mine. As this is the best. British specimen known, I thought I ought not to leave it out of my work. I do not know that it has been analysed: it. may probably be a little debased by admixture; yet its softness would indicate it as nearly pure. Much mixture would take away its malleable character, and make it brittle.

The Geological Society have a specimen also, said to be native Lead, among some American minerals left at their house for inspection by T. Meade, esq.