If the Copper be not mixt with any other Metals, and be but little in
quantity, it may be reduced so in Crucibles by it self, but if it be in
a plentifull quantity it may be done by blast.
But where it contains Iron or _Lapis Calaminaris_, (which two the
Minerals [of Copper] do frequently abound withall) there it admits not
of reduction per se without the help of other matters, because of the
Iron, _Zink_, or _Calaminaris_; which Minerals associating themselves
with the Copper, in the melting are wont to make it brittle. But this
inconveniency may be prevented the following way.
XXVIII. _The way of making Copper, which hath Iron in it malleable
by reduction._
Mix such Copper as hath in it _Lapis Calaminaris_ or Iron, with common
Salt, and put it in a Crucible and melt it, that so the Salt may
associate or draw unto it self the Iron or _Lapis Calaminaris_ out of
the Copper, and turn them into _Scoria_’s, leaving the Copper, which
will settle to the bottom and go into a _Regulus_.
XXIX. _By what means Copper is to be separated from the Silver, if
they are both together extracted out of the Mines, and the Silver
has not been precipitated out of the solution by the Water of
Salt, but the dissolving =Menstruum= hath been abstracted from
them so conjoyned both together._
If the Silver be more in quantity than the Copper, then the Copper is
easily extracted out of the other by the Water of Salt wherein a little
Tartar hath been dissolved. For Salt and Tartar do readily dissolve
Copper, and leave the Silver.
But if the Copper bear the Bell, and there be more of that than
the Silver, then will it be better to precipitate the Silver first
by the Water of Salt, out of the first extraction of the Minerals;
and afterwards the Copper will be likewise freed by abstracting the
dissolving _Menstruum_, insomuch that each of these two Metals are
gotten apart.
XXX. _If the extracted Copper comprehends in it any Gold, by what
means the Gold may be therefrom separated._
Albeit if a solution of _Saturn_ or _Lune_ being poured on the
dissolved Copper, and well shook with the same solution will fish
out some Gold, yet it gets not all unless it be debilitated by some
_Lixivium_. But now the _Lixivium_ being poured thereunto that so the
solvent being debilitated may the easier let go its Gold thereby, hath
with it this inconveniency, _viz._ that the solvent is made wholly
unprofitable to be used about any more extractions. Nay more, there’s
also this discommodity, that if an error be committed by pouring on a
little more _Lixivium_ than is expedient, there will also precipitate
some of the Copper together with the Gold.
To prevent therefore these inconveniencies, the solution of the Copper
which contains in it Gold, is to be drawn off even unto driness, in my
secret and by me invented distilling Vessel, in which Vessel it may
easily and in great plenty be done; and the following _Menstruum_ which
dissolveth onely Copper and not Gold is to be poured upon the dried
matter, that the Copper may be dissolved, and the Gold (be it either
much or little) may remain in the bottom undissolved. The dissolved
Copper may be precipitated out of the Water with a _Lixivium_, whereto
is added some of the Liqour of Flints, and be washt and dried, and with
strong Vinegar be turned into a most delicate Verdigreace. The Water
that is thus made use of, if it be poured on Alkalizated Salts yields
good Salt Peter.
He that does not much regard that green colour may separate the
dissolvent from the Copper by Distillation, and again use the same for
the like dissolving of new Copper.
But now there must be in the Copper So much Gold as to quit the costs
of this labour, and to prove gainfull; otherwise it is better to leave
the Gold with the Copper than to buy it at so dear a rate.
XXXI. _The making of such a =Menstruum= as dissolveth the Copper
and drives from it self, or precipitates the Gold._
This dissolvent is no other than _Aq. Fortis_, wherein a little Tartar
is dissolved. For the Tartar being an enemy to the Gold, is wont to
precipitate the Gold out of the solutions like as common Salt doth
Silver out of _Aq. Fortis_. By this way may all the Copper be easily
separated from the Gold, concerning which, more shall be spoken in its
due place.
XXXII. _Another reduction of Copper that hath Gold in it, and the
perfect separation of the Copper from the Gold._
Add to such Copper that hath Gold in it, some Silver, and melt it
with so much _Regulus_ of Antimony as is twice the weight of the said
Metals thus together taken. Separate the said _Regulus_ together with
the Copper from the Silver by the addition of Salt Peter, that so the
Silver may retain with the Gold that was in the Copper, the which is
to be afterwards separated if it be worth the while. Now it is not
necessary presently to separate it, forasmuch as it is far better
many times to abstract such a Copper that has Gold therein from such
a Silver, that so the Silver may be enriched with a great quantity of
Gold by so many abstractions; the which abstractions require but very
little costs besides the charges of the Fire and Crucibles.
For all the Salt Peter used hereabouts, together with all the Copper
and all the _Regulus_ of Antimony may be thencefrom again recovered, by
him who rightly knows the precipitation. Besides, there lies hid under
this operation, some great matter as concerning the amending of the
Metals. For it is a way of arriving to the knowledge of impregnating
all Silver by Copper, with Gold, and Copper it self with Silver;
concerning which thing there are more instructions to be found in other
places of my Writings.
These things may at present suffice, touching the reduction of the
Metals extracted out of the poor Mines, and [concerning those things
which by reason of the hasty Edition of the Appendix to the fifth part
of the prosperity of _Germany_ were omitted therein;] the which defects
the well minded Reader may from hence supply.
XXXIII. _A brief description of the above mentioned artificial
Instrument, by the help whereof the spirits necessary for the
extraction of the Metals out of the poor Mines that contain in
them Gold, Silver and Copper, are plentifully prepared, the
Minerals themselves extracted, and the dissolving =Menstruums=,
again easily separated from the Metals._
This incomparable and by me newly found out Instrument, being most
profitable and commodious for the easie extractions of Metals, and
preparations of the dissolving _Menstruums_, is made of a peculiar
earth, and is almost of the figure or likeness of a Bakers Oven, and is
either of a bigger or lesser size, according to the quantity any one
has a mind to labour in; In the forepart it hath a Door, and in the
end [or top] or very near it, it hath an Outlet. To the Cover serving
instead of an Alembick, a great receiving Vessel is to be fitted,
fit for the reception of the outgoing spirits. After that the Furnace
is heated, the prepared Salts being put in peculiar Pots or Crucibles
made of the best earth are to be put with a pair of Tongs prepared for
this peculiar use into the Instrument, and all the spirits will be
drawn off with a speedy Distillation. Now there is no danger here of
breaking the Instruments, and the Distillation may be done in the space
of one or two hours, how great a quantity soever of Salt was used to
the Distillation. When the Distillation is over, the Pots that were put
into that Instrument or Furnace are to be again taken out with your
Tongs, and presently other Pots filled with Salts are to be put in the
room of them you took out, and the spirits again driven out by a new
Distillation. This labour may be kept on as long as one pleaseth, or as
long as he hath any matter to distill withall; because the Vessel never
cools as long as the Distillation is continued. This Furnace therefore
is most notably fit for the Distillation of a great quantity of Salts,
and that by a labour which is so exceeding speedily finished.
The same way of Distillation is to be observed in the extraction of
Minerals or Metalline Earths, the which can be far sooner extracted and
far speedier this way, than by that described in the Appendix which is
to be done by heating the Glasses.
After the same manner is the dissolving _Menstruum_ it self speedily
again abstracted from the extracted Metals, and being thereby preserved
without any loss is to be applied to farther use. This Instrument
therefore doth so compendiously and easily dispatch all those said
labours, that (set aside your Fire and Salt) the plentifull making your
spirits, the abundant extraction of the Minerals, and the separation of
your _Menstruum_’s from the extracted Metals and its preservation, are
in a manner done without any costs.
XXXIV. _Now follows an explication of some secrets effected by the
help of my =Sal. Mirabilis=, concerning which there is mention
made in the second part of =Miraculum Mundi=._
It is clearly evident from many places of my Writings, and principally
in the second part of _Miraculum Mundi_ that my _Sal. Mirabilis_ is
diversly prepared; hence it follows of course, that the use thereof is
different. For it hath one use when (after the spirit is thencefrom
distilled) it is taken out of the Cucurbit, and hath as yet a corrosive
nature. Contrarily, it hath another kind of use when this corrosive
Salt is dissolved in common Water, and filtred, and set in the cold,
that so the best part thereof may shoot into long Crystals, which
having no corrosive power, serve for a peculiar use. It hath likewise
another use when it is deprived of all corrosivity and turned into a
sweetness, as I have shown in many places of my Writings. This is to be
known by such as would use it, for this or that labour, that so they
may commit no error, but be thereby rendred Masters of their desires
the more easily.
We will therefore make inspection into some of those principal secrets
which are declared in the second part of _Miraculum Mundi_, and examine
whether or no they can be effected after the same manner I prescribed?
XXXV. _By what means any Water, Wine, Ale, Vinegar and other
liqours may be coagulated in a few hours space into hard pieces
like Ice, by the =Sal. Mirabilis=._
For such a coagulation of all watery and moist things, well edulcorated
(as the Chymists phrase is) _Sal. Mirabilis_ is to be taken and such
as is shot into long Crystals, prepared of an equal weight of Salt and
good Oil of Vitriol, because a most great driness ariseth from the Oil
of Vitriol.
Such an excellently well prepared _Sal. Mirabilis_, and which is shot
into long Crystals, is to be reduced (by calcination in the Sun) into
a fine powder, that so it may lose all its moistness and yet not melt.
For if it melts, then it would need grinding again; one part of this
calcined _Sal. Mirabilis_ is able to coagulate three parts of Water,
Wine, Ale, or any other liqour which it is mixed withall, into a dry
matter like to Ice, insomuch that it may be carried in a Sack or a
Sieve full of holes.
But what use such a coagulation may serve for, would be too tedious
to declare in this place. Any one will find what use is to be thereof
made, if he well meditates upon the thing.
XXXVI. _The separation of the Water, Wine, or Ale, from the =Sal.
Mirabilis=._
The coagulated liquors may be commodiously separated from the _Sal.
Mirabilis_ by Distillation; but the aquosity of the coagulated Wine and
Ale are to be separated onely by Distillation, and the grosser part
remains behind in the Cucurbit with the Salt. But the _Sal. Mirabilis_
is by calcination, again freed from all impurity, and again made white
and fit for any other such like new effect.
_N. B._ I doubt not but that there are other ways of coagulating watery
liqours into Ice, concerning which we shall say somewhat in their due
place.
XXXVII. _How the sharp spirits of Salts, as =Aq. Fortis=, =Aq.
Regis=, Spirit of Salt, Spirit of Vitriol, of Allum, and the like
may be coagulated into hard Salts, not unlike to frozen Water._
This coagulation of sharp Spirits out of Salts, is done the same way as
the coagulation of common Water, and other sweet liqours is performed
by; but the separation ought to be done in Vessels of the best Earth,
or in Glass, because of their sharpness. And certain it is, that with
these coagulated Spirits of Salts many things of great moment may be
done, the mentioning whereof we for brevity sake do here pass over.
For I have purposed to demonstrate at this time, some secrets onely
which are mentioned in the second part of _Miraculum Mundi_, and to
assert the truth of them.
By these two described coagulations any one may easily learn that the
coagulation of other moist things are possible to be done.
XXXVIII. _How the head of a fountain may be stopped up by this
=Sal. Mirabilis=._
It sometimes happens that there breaks out a Spring of Waters in some
places where it proves offensive and hurtfull. And forasmuch as they
are sometimes very difficult to be stopt up, I will set down a way in
this place of stopping it by _Sal Mirabilis_, but chiefly to this end,
that the nature and property of things may be throughly learned, and
besides, that even Arts and Sciences themselves do sometime bring no
small help, especially when no counsel avails. Take therefore of your
_Sal Mirabilis_, heated red hot as much as is sufficient, wrap it up in
a linnen cloth and thrust it into the hole of the Fountain, and it will
be turned with the Water into an hard Stone, and thereby enforceth the
Fountain to seek it self some other passage.