Take of .......... by torrifying made into ashes, pour the extraction
into an iron Pot, and stir the _Calx_ with an iron _Spatula_ while
it boileth. All the sharp spirits do stick fast to the ..........
the phlegm alone vanisheth by exhalation. When therefore the spirits
are wholly con-centred with the .......... and .......... are dried,
they are to be put into a close Tigil or Crucible upon Coals in a
secret Crucible or melting Pot, then the fire expels the con-centred
spirits into a receiving vessel; the which spirits may be used for
a new extraction. A fugacious gold mixt with iron, remaineth with
the .......... which Calx being reduced in a Furnace fit for those
operations, which the _Germans_ do call _Stichofen_, draws out a lead
mixt with gold, the which being expelled by a Cupel enricheth the
operators with the best gold and silver.
_N. B._ But if such lead should not contain so much of gold and silver,
as that it should deserve a separation by a Cupel, that is again to be
mixt with .................... and to be reduced into ashes, and the
operation is so long to be repeated, untill the lead being rich enough
in gold, may deserve that separation.
The separation is also to be perfected with the Bellows, lest so great
a plenty of lead should be melted out of the Tests, which operation
requires much fire, yet the lead may be collected or conjoyned in the
Test without a wastefull melting, as shall be taught hereafter.
XXXV. _An easie making or composing of Aq. Regis, for extracting of
minerals._
Because a plenteous quantity of spirit of Salt is easily prepared, the
Salt Peter is onely to be dissolved therein, and with that solution
minerals are to be extracted. For the Salt Peter strengthens the spirit
of Salt, that it can so much the more easier set upon and snatch to it
the tender gold in those minerals.
The same spirit of Salt, may also without any rectifying be administred
for this operation, to wit, such as ascends in the first Distillation.
XXXVI. _Another as yet more easier way of preparing Aq. Regis for
extraction._
Because silver doth always in this operation bewray its being
impregnated with gold, which is to be separated by _Aq. fortis_, the
solution of silver is also fitly used to extract after this manner.
Pour the said solution into _Aq. Regis_ which hath extracted gold, that
the silver may attract the greatest part thereof to it self. But the
same _Aq. Regis_ may again extract other gold, and be attracted by the
solution of silver.
But if there should be no solution of silver in readiness, the gold
extracted is con-centred with and the operation is perfected by the
means or after the manner abovesaid, by driving the spirit out of the
.......... and by reducing it in a Furnace, called by the _Germans_
_Stichofen_, as was said before.
_N. B._ _Aq. fortis_ being dissolved therein, or poured on or into _Aq.
Regis_, or the nitrous spirit of Salt, it adds an increase and strength
to the _Aq. Regis_, because _Aq. fortis_ doth corroborate the spirit of
Salt better than Salt Peter.
XXXVII. _How the Calx of silver, which hath fished out gold by Aq.
Regis, is to be recovered._
When the solution of silver is poured into _Aq. Regis_, and the
chiefest part of the gold is extracted; rest is so long granted
unto it, that the Calx of the silver may settle to the bottom, and
afterwards the _Aq. Regis_ by pouring it forth is separated, cleared
from the Calx of the silver, again to be used for a new extraction;
unless perhaps as much of iron had been admixed with it, in which
case .......... the white Calx of the silver is put into some Cloath
laid in an earthen or glass Tonnel, and hot water is to be poured on
it, to take away with it the _Aq. Regis_, which is left in the Calx
of the silver. The remaining water is to be pressed out of the Towel
or Cloath, and the Calx dried, and reduced in the secret Crucible, or
is made use of in the con-centring of .......... into silver or gold,
_viz._ gold and silver.
XXXVIII. _After what manner precipitated silver is to be reduced
without a loss of its weight._
Seeing the greatest fugacity is procured unto this Calx of silver, so
that its former body cannot be restored unto it in common Crucibles
without great loss, this discommodity cannot after a more convenient
manner be prevented than by that which follows.
Mix thou an equal weight of .................... with this volatile
Calx, and cast it into a close bright burning Crucible, that is narrow
above, and broad beneath; the which after thou hast covered with a
Cover, and well fenced with the lute of Wisedom, thou shall melt the
matter together, nothing whereof shall depart into smoke, neither shall
so much as the least of it pierce through the Crucible, and all the
Silver which the gold received is by this means attained without any
loss.
This silver thou shalt by fusion reduce into grains, and shalt separate
the gold from the same in _Aq. fortis_. And thou shalt again apply the
silver thus reduced unto a new labour, in which labour thou proceeding
without intermission shalt have a continual separatory operation of
gold and silver; and this labour thou mayest exercise with great profit
in all places.
XXXIX. _Another manner of reducing a fugacious or volatile silver,
with greater profit._
Place thou at the Stern of this little golden Ship, a little fish whose
name is _Remora_, that it may be spoiled of its swiftness and may be at
a stand, cast this silver little Ship with the little fish _Remora_,
sitting at its Stern, into a close and square Tigil or Crucible, that
by fusion they may depart into one body. In this fusion not onely all
the silver is returned without any loss into its former body, but also
is by the white _Finns_ of the little fish, augmented with a certain
increase of its weight, and becomes more golden; so that by this
additament more of better silver is gotten, than if by the addition of
other things it had been restored to its former body.
What other profits any one may be able to obtain through the help of
this volatile silver, we will God willing hereafter teach.
These are the things which I at this time have been willing to teach,
concerning the extraction of a volatile gold out of stones, and the
more poor minerals, as also of the extending or bringing forward silver
by successive degrees into gold; of which matter more things shall be
spoken in other places.
XL. _An operation, teaching to extract Stones and Minerals, or
Mines that are poor in Silver, and Copper by a moist way._
These matters being made bright burning hot, are to be quenched with
water, then moistened and extracted with _Aq. fortis_; after the same
manner as was taught above concerning the minerals of gold, and no
difference is here met with but in the waters extracting, since gold is
extracted with _Aq. Regis_, and silver with _Aq. fortis_.
If the minerals or mines of gold and silver are at once in readiness,
the gold is extracted by _Aq. Regis_, and the silver by _Aq. fortis_,
and the solutions are to be united, in which dissolving, the silver
being precipitated by the _Aq. Regis_, doth also snatch with it the
gold from the _Aq. Regis_; and although copper shall be present with
the mine of silver, and it be extracted together with the silver by
_Aq. fortis_, yet it is no impediment to the operation, for the silver
and gold do sink to the bottom, and the copper is retained by the _Aq.
Regis_ to be afterwards administred for a new operation, and that
indeed as often as any one shall be willing.
The copper is recovered from the _Aq. Regis_ by thin plates of iron
being put therein, which operation makes the _Aq. Regis_ red, and
wholly unfit for the like labours.
Therefore the iron being then spiritual, promotes something out of the
lead unto the degree of gold, and so the _Aq. Regis_ being thus often
used, it is again rendred profitable.
XLI. _A more easy manner as yet by far, of plentifully extracting
Gold and Silver out of poor mines, as Sand, White-Clay, and other
the like minerals, by fire without fusion._
The mine or mineral _Argilla_, or White-Clay, _&c._ containing a
volatile and fixed Gold, being rosted or calcined, and broken in pieces
in a mill, fill thou a glass gourd therewith fenced with clay, or
made of the best earth, half full, and pour so much of the following
_menstruum_ on that matter, as that it may be well moistened: but as
soon as that _menstruum_ is poured thereon, it presently begins to give
a smoak, wherefore it is altogether necessary, that thou presently put
a head on the gourd or body, which is to be set in sand, and all the
moisture separated by distilling, and that while the distillation is
performing the gold may be dissolved, but the solving matter it self is
to be collected in a receiver by it self, the which hath the virtues of
_Aq. Regis_, and may be again applyed for use, as shall by and by be
shewn.
After that all the humidity is come forth, take the gourd (being cold)
out of the sand, and pour some water on the matter that it may become
soft, and that a Salt may be extracted from it, wherein the Gold
lurketh, which was contained in the mine; coagulate the Lixivium being
full of Gold, into a Red-Salt, the which by adding Litharge, is to be
melted in such Crucibles which are not broken.
The Litharge draws the Gold unto it out of the Salt, which is to be
separated from the Lead, after that manner which shall be shewn in the
following Chapters or Treatises.
XLII. _The preparation of a Water necessary for the extracting of
Gold._
Take of .................... this water of small charges, which thou
shalt prepare plentifully without trouble, pour upon mines, and again
separate it by distillation, to be again used in new labours, that
there may be no need to prepare it again anew, because this doth
not onely alwaies remain effectual, but also is increased in every
operation: So that thou mayest be able to extract mines and minerals
_ad infinitum_, if so be thou shalt prepare but one pound or pint at
the first.
_N. B._ By this means all Gold how little soever it be, is plentifully
extracted out of flints, sand, and any other minerals, without any cost
excepting fire.