My interest in lead mining was aroused many years ago when country walks in the Aberystwyth district provided ample evidence of past working.

Preface.

Man's knowledge of lead must be at least as old as his knowledge of silver, for the two metals generally occur together, and what is known of ancient chemistry and metallurgy suggests that the only means of obtaining the precious metal was by its extraction from lead or by its reduction from other metals by the use of lead.

Chapter I. Introduction.