Answer:
Brown I am and much admired; many horses have I tried; tire a horse and worry a man; tell me this riddle if you can.
What hangs others yet can unintentionally hang itself?
Although I'm not an insect, some people found me very difficult to exterminate. They called me something like 'insane priest.' The first half of my name means the same as 'scrape,' & my last three letters are a metal. Who am I?
During the 1800's these turned women into hourglasses and is becoming more popular again these days
The ones who see it may go blind, Contracting the fool's madness. You have to dig to find it, Crush big stones or mine it. Wash dirt clumps in a pan and wait for it to settle, A shiny, precious metal.
What never gets any wetter no matter how hard it rains?