published in company with others. The first edition was printed at
Basel, 1546; the second at Basel, 1558, which, being the edition
revised and added to by the author, has been used by us for reference.
There are five "books," and in the main they contain Agricola's
philosophical views on geologic phenomena. The largest portion of the
actual text is occupied with refutations of the ancient philosophers,
the alchemists, and the astrologers; and these portions, while they
exhibit his ability in observation and in dialectics, make but dull
reading. Those sections of the book which contain his own views,
however, are of the utmost importance in the history of science, and we
reproduce extensively the material relating to ore deposits in the
footnotes on pages 43 to 52. Briefly, Book I. is devoted to discussion
of the origin and distribution of ground waters and juices. The latter
part of this book and a portion of Book II. are devoted to the origin of
subterranean heat, which he assumes is in the main due to burning
bitumen--a genus which with him embraced coal--and also, in a minor
degree, to friction of internal winds and to burning sulphur. The
remainder of Book II. is mainly devoted to the discussion of
subterranean "air", "vapour", and "exhalations", and he conceives that
volcanic eruptions and earthquakes are due to their agency, and in these
hypotheses he comes fairly close to the modern theory of eruptions from
explosions of steam. "Vapour arises when the internal heat of the earth
or some hidden fire burns earth which is moistened with vapour. When
heat or subterranean fire meets with a great force of vapour which cold
has contracted and encompassed in every direction, then the vapour,
finding no outlet, tries to break through whatever is nearest to it, in
order to give place to the insistent and urgent cold. Heat and cold
cannot abide together in one place, but expel and drive each other out
of it by turns".
As he was, we believe, the first to recognise the fundamental agencies
of mountain sculpture, we consider it is of sufficient interest to
warrant a reproduction of his views on this subject: "Hills and
mountains are produced by two forces, one of which is the power of
water, and the other the strength of the wind. There are three forces
which loosen and demolish the mountains, for in this case, to the power
of the water and the strength of the wind we must add the fire in the
interior of the earth. Now we can plainly see that a great abundance of
water produces mountains, for the torrents first of all wash out the
soft earth, next carry away the harder earth, and then roll down the
rocks, and thus in a few years they excavate the plains or slopes to a
considerable depth; this may be noticed in mountainous regions even by
unskilled observers. By such excavation to a great depth through many
ages, there rises an immense eminence on each side. When an eminence has
thus arisen, the earth rolls down, loosened by constant rain and split
away by frost, and the rocks, unless they are exceedingly firm, since
their seams are similarly softened by the damp, roll down into the
excavations below. This continues until the steep eminence is changed
into a slope. Each side of the excavation is said to be a mountain, just
as the bottom is called a valley. Moreover, streams, and to a far
greater extent rivers, effect the same results by their rushing and
washing; for this reason they are frequently seen flowing either between
very high mountains which they have created, or close by the shore
which borders them.... Nor did the hollow places which now contain the
seas all formerly exist, nor yet the mountains which check and break
their advance, but in many parts there was a level plain, until the
force of winds let loose upon it a tumultuous sea and a scathing tide.
By a similar process the impact of water entirely overthrows and
flattens out hills and mountains. But these changes of local conditions,
numerous and important as they are, are not noticed by the common people
to be taking place at the very moment when they are happening, because,
through their antiquity, the time, place, and manner in which they began
is far prior to human memory. The wind produces hills and mountains in
two ways: either when set loose and free from bonds, it violently moves
and agitates the sand; or else when, after having been driven into the
hidden recesses of the earth by cold, as into a prison, it struggles
with a great effort to burst out. For hills and mountains are created in
hot countries, whether they are situated by the sea coasts or in
districts remote from the sea, by the force of winds; these no longer
held in check by the valleys, but set free, heap up the sand and dust,
which they gather from all sides, to one spot, and a mass arises and
grows together. If time and space allow, it grows together and hardens,
but if it be not allowed (and in truth this is more often the case), the
same force again scatters the sand far and wide.... Then, on the other
hand, an earthquake either rends and tears away part of a mountain, or
engulfs and devours the whole mountain in some fearful chasm. In this
way it is recorded the Cybotus was destroyed, and it is believed that
within the memory of man an island under the rule of Denmark
disappeared. Historians tell us that Taygetus suffered a loss in this
way, and that Therasia was swallowed up with the island of Thera. Thus
it is clear that water and the powerful winds produce mountains, and
also scatter and destroy them. Fire only consumes them, and does not
produce at all, for part of the mountains--usually the inner part--takes
fire."
The major portion of Book III. is devoted to the origin of ore channels,
which we reproduce at some length on page 47. In the latter part of Book
III., and in Books IV. and V., he discusses the principal divisions of
the mineral kingdom given in _De Natura Fossilium_, and the origin of
their characteristics. It involves a large amount of what now appears
fruitless tilting at the Peripatetics and the alchemists; but
nevertheless, embracing, as Agricola did, the fundamental Aristotelian
elements, he must needs find in these same elements and their
subordinate binary combinations cause for every variation in external
character.
_Bermannus._ This, Agricola's first work in relation to mining, was
apparently first published at Basel, 1530. The work is in the form of a
dialogue between "Bermannus," who is described as a miner, mineralogist,
and "a student of mathematics and poetry," and "Nicolaus Ancon" and
"Johannes Naevius," both scholars and physicians. Ancon is supposed to
be of philosophical turn of mind and a student of Moorish literature,
Naevius to be particularly learned in the writings of Dioscorides,
Pliny, Galen, etc. "Bermannus" was probably an adaptation by Agricola
of the name of his friend Lorenz Berman, a prominent miner. The book is
in the main devoted to a correlation of the minerals mentioned by the
Ancients with those found in the Saxon mines. This phase is interesting
as indicating the natural trend of Agricola's scholastic mind when he
first comes into contact with the sciences to which he devoted himself.
The book opens with a letter of commendation from Erasmus, of Rotterdam,
and with the usual dedication and preface by the author. The three
conversationalists are supposed to take walks among the mines and to
discuss, incidentally, matters which come to their attention; therefore
the book has no systematic or logical arrangement. There are occasional
statements bearing on the history, management, titles, and methods used
in the mines, and on mining lore generally. The mineralogical part,
while of importance from the point of view of giving the first
description of several minerals, is immensely improved upon in _De
Natura Fossilium_, published 15 years later. It is of interest to find
here the first appearance of the names of many minerals which we have
since adopted from the German into our own nomenclature. Of importance
is the first description of bismuth, although, as pointed out on page
433, the metal had been mentioned before. In the revised collection of
collateral works published in 1558, the author makes many important
changes and adds some new material, but some of the later editions were
made from the unrevised older texts.
_Rerum Metallicarum Interpretatio._ This list of German equivalents for
Latin mineralogical terms was prepared by Agricola himself, and first
appears in the 1546 collection of _De Ortu et Causis_, _De Natura
Fossilium_, etc., being repeated in all subsequent publications of these
works. It consists of some 500 Latin mineralogical and metallurgical
terms, many of which are of Agricola's own coinage. It is of great help
in translation and of great value in the study of mineralogic
nomenclature.
_De Mensuris et Ponderibus._ This work is devoted to a discussion of the
Greek and Roman weights and measures, with some correlation to those
used in Saxony. It is a careful work still much referred to by students
of these subjects. The first edition was published at Paris in 1533, and
in the 1550 edition at Basel appears, for the first time, _De Precio
Metallorum et Monetis_.
_De Veteribus et Novis Metallis._ This short work comprises 31 folio
pages, and first appears in the 1546 collection of collateral works. It
consists mainly of historical and geographical references to the
occurrence of metals and mines, culled from the Greek and Latin
classics, together with some information as to the history of the mines
in Central Europe. The latter is the only original material, and
unfortunately is not very extensive. We have incorporated some of this
information in the footnotes.
_De Animantibus Subterraneis._ This short work was first printed in
Basel, 1549, and consists of one chapter of 23 folio pages. Practically
the whole is devoted to the discussion of various animals who at least a
portion of their time live underground, such as hibernating,
cave-dwelling, and burrowing animals, together with cave-dwelling birds,
lizards, crocodiles, serpents, etc. There are only a few lines of remote
geological interest as to migration of animals imposed by geologic
phenomena, such as earthquakes, floods, etc. This book also discloses an
occasional vein of credulity not to be expected from the author's other
works, in that he apparently believes Aristotle's story of the flies
which were born and lived only in the smelting furnace; and further, the
last paragraph in the book is devoted to underground gnomes. This we
reproduce in the footnote on page 217.
_De Natura eorum quae Effluunt ex Terra._ This work of four books,
comprising 83 folio pages, first appears in the 1546 collection. As the
title indicates, the discussion is upon the substances which flow from
the earth, such as water, bitumen, gases, etc. Altogether it is of
microscopic value and wholly uninteresting. The major part refers to
colour, taste, temperature, medicinal uses of water, descriptions of
rivers, lakes, swamps, and aqueducts.
BIBLIOGRAPHICAL NOTES.
For the following we have mainly to thank Miss Kathleen Schlesinger, who
has been employed many months in following up every clue, and although
the results display very considerable literary activity on the part of
the author, they do not by any means indicate Miss Schlesinger's
labours. Agricola's works were many of them published at various times
in combination, and therefore to set out the title and the publication
of each work separately would involve much repetition of titles, and we
consequently give the titles of the various volumes arranged according
to dates. For instance, _De Natura Fossilium_, _De Ortu et Causis_, _De
Veteribus et Novis Metallis_, _De Natura eorum quae Effluunt ex Terra_,
and _Interpretatio_ have always been published together, and the Latin
and Italian editions of these works always include _Bermannus_ as well.
Moreover, the Latin _De Re Metallica_ of 1657 includes all of these
works.
We mark with an asterisk the titles to editions which we have been able
to authenticate by various means from actual books. Those unmarked are
editions which we are satisfied do exist, but the titles of which are
possibly incomplete, as they are taken from library catalogues, etc.
Other editions to which we find reference and of which we are not
certain are noted separately in the discussion later on.[3]
*1530 (8vo):
_Georgii Agricolae Medici, Bermannus sive de re Metallica._
(Froben's mark).
_Basileae in aedibus Frobenianis Anno. MDXXX._
Bound with this edition is (p. 131-135), at least occasionally,
_Rerum metallicarum appellationes juxta vernaculam Germanorum
linguam, autori Plateano_.
_Basileae in officina Frobeniana_, Anno. MDXXX.
*1533 (8vo):
_Georgii Agricolae Medici libri quinque de Mensuris et
Ponderibus: in quibus plaeraque a Budaeo et Portio parum
animadversa diligenter excutiuntur. Opus nunc primum in lucem
aeditum._
(Wechelus's Mark).
_Parisiis. Excudebat Christianus Wechelus, in vico Iacobaeo,
sub scuto Basileiensi, Anno MDXXXIII._
261 pages and index of 5 pages.
*1533 (4to):
_Georgii Agricolae Medici Libri quinque. De Mensuris et
Ponderibus: In quibus pleraque a Budaeo et Portio parum
animadversa diligenter excutiuntur._
(Froben's Mark).
_Basileae ex Officina Frobeniana Anno MDXXXIII. Cum gratia et
privilegio Caesareo ad sex annos._
1534 (4to):
_Georgii Agricolae. Epistola ad Plateanum, cui sunt adiecta
aliquot loca castigata in libris de mensuris et ponderibus
nuper editis._
Froben, Basel, 1534.
*1535 (8vo):
_Georgii Agricolae Medici libri V. de Mensuris et Ponderibus:
in quibus pleraque a Budaeo et Portio parum animadversa
diligenter excutiuntur._
(Printer's Mark).
At the end of Index: _Venitues per Juan Anto. de Nicolinis de
Sabio, sumptu vero et requisitione Dni Melchionis Sessae. Anno.
Dni MDXXXV. Mense Julii._ 116 folios.
On back of title page is given: _Liber primus de mensuris
Romanis, Secundus de mensuris Graecis, Tertius de rerum quas
metimur pondere, Quartus de ponderibus Romanis, Quintus de
ponderibus Graecis._
*1541 (8vo):
_Georgii Agricolae Medici Bermannus sive de re metallica._
_Parisiis. Apud Hieronymum Gormontiu. In Vico Jacobeo sub
signotrium coronarum._ 1541.
*1546 (8vo):
_Georgii Agricolae medici Bermannus, sive de metallica ab
accurata autoris recognitione et emendatione nunc primum editus
cum nomenclatura rerum metallicarum. Eorum Lipsiae In officina
Valentini Papae Anno. MDXLVI._
*1546 (folio):
_Georgii Agricolae De ortu et causis subterraneorum Lib. V. De
natura eorum quae effluunt ex terra Lib. IIII. De natura
fossilium Lib. X. De veteribus et novis metallis, Lib. II.
Bermannus sive De re Metallica dialogus. Interpretatio
Germanica vocum rei metallicae addito Indice faecundissimo._
_Apud Hieron Frobenium et Nicolaum Episcopium Basileae, MDXLVI.
Cum privilegio Imp. Maiestatis ad quinquennium._
*1549 (8vo):
_Georgii Agricolae de animantibus subterraneis Liber._
Froben, Basel, MDXLIX.
*1550 (8vo):
_Di Georgio Agricola De la generatione de le cose, che sotto la
terra sono, e de le cause de' loro effetti e natura, Lib. V. De
La Natura di quelle cose, che de la terra scorrono Lib. IIII.
De La Natura de le cose Fossili, e che sotto la terra si Cavano
Lib. X. De Le Minere antiche e moderne Lib. II. Il Bermanno, o
de le cose Metallice Dialogo, Recato tutto hora dal Latino in
Buona Lingua volgare._
(Vignette of Sybilla surrounded by the words)--_Qv Al Piv Fermo
E Il Mio Foglio E Il Mio Presaggio._
_Col Privilegio del Sommo Pontefice Papa Giulio III. Et del
Illustriss. Senato Veneto per anni. XX._
(Colophon). _In Vinegia per Michele Tramezzino, MDL._
*1550 (folio):
_Georgii Agricolae. De Mensuris et ponderibus Rom. atque Graec.
lib. V. De externis mensuris et ponderibus Lib. II. Ad ea quae
Andreas Alciatus denuo disputavit De Mensuris et Ponderibus
brevis defensio Lib. I. De Mensuris quibus intervalla metimur
Lib. I. De restituendis ponderibus atque mensuris. Lib. I. De
precio metallorum et monetis. Lib. III._
_Basileae._ Froben. MDL. _Cum privilegio Imp. Maiestatis ad
quinquennium._[4]
*1556 (folio):
_Georgii Agricolae De Re Metallica Libri XII. quibus Officia,
Instrumenta, Machinae, ac omnia denique ad Metallicam
spectantia, non modo luculentissime describuntur, sed et per
effigies, suis locis insertas, adjunctis Latinis, Germanicisque
appellationibus ita ob oculos ponuntur, ut clarius tradi non
possint Eiusdem De Animantibus Subterraneis Liber, ab Autore
recognitus: cum Indicibus diversis, quicquid in opere tractatum
est, pulchre demonstrantibus._
(Froben's Mark).
_Basileae MDLVI. Cum Privilegio Imperatoris in annos V. et
Galliarum Regis ad Sexennium._
Folio 538 pages and preface, glossary and index amounting to 86
pages. This is the first edition of _De Re Metallica_. We
reproduce this title-page on page XIX.
*1557 (folio):
_Vom Bergkwerck xii Buecher darinn alle Empter, Instrument,
Gezeuge, unnd Alles zu disem Handel gehoerig, mitt schoenen
figuren vorbildet, und Klaerlich beschriben seindt erstlich in
Lateinischer Sprach durch den Hochgelerten und weittberuempten
Herrn Georgium Agricolam, Doctorn und. Buergermeistern der
Churfuerstlichen statt Kempnitz, jezundt aber verteuescht durch
den Achtparen. unnd Hochgelerten Herrn Philippum Bechium,
Philosophen, Artzer und in der Loblichen Universitet zu Basel
Professorn._
_Gedruckt zu Basel durch Jeronymus Froben Und Niclausen
Bischoff im 1557 Jar mitt Keiserlicher Freyheit._
*1558 (folio):
_Georgii Agricolae De ortu et causis subterraneorum Lib. V. De
natura eorum quae effluunt ex terra Lib. IV. De natura
fossilium Lib. X. De veteribus et novis metallis Lib. II.
Bermannus, sive De Re Metallica Dialogus Liber. Interpretatio
Germanica vocum rei metallicae, addito duplici Indice, altero
rerum, altero locorum Omnia ab ipso authore, cum haud
poenitenda accessione, recens recognita._
_Froben, et Episcop. Basileae MDLVIII. Cum Imp. Maiestatis
renovato privilegio ad quinquennium._
270 pages and index. As the title states, this is a revised
edition by the author, and as the changes are very considerable
it should be the one used. The Italian translation and the 1612
Wittenberg edition, mentioned below, are taken from the 1546
edition, and are, therefore, very imperfect.
*1561 (folio):
Second edition of _De Re Metallica_ including _De Animantibus
Subterraneis_, with same title as the first edition except the
addition, after the body of the title, of the words _Atque
omnibus nunc iterum ad archetypum diligenter restitutis et
castigatis_ and the year MDLXI. 502 pages and 72 pages of
glossary and index.
*1563 (folio):
_Opera di Giorgio Agricola de L'arte de Metalli Partita in XII.
libri, ne quali si descrivano tutte le sorti, e qualita de gli
uffizii, de gli strumenti, delle macchine, e di tutte l'altre
cose attenenti a cotal arte, non pure con parole chiare ma
eziandio si mettano a luoghi loro le figure di dette cose,
ritratte al naturale, con l'aggiunta de nomi di quelle, cotanto
chiari, e spediti, che meglio non si puo desiderare, o havere._
_Aggiugnesi il libro del medesimo autore, che tratta de gl'
Animali di sottoterra da lui stesso corretto et riveduto.
Tradotti in lingua Toscana da M. Michelangelo Florio
Fiorentino._
_Con l'Indice di tutte le cose piu notabili alla fine_
(Froben's mark) _in Basilea per Hieronimo Frobenio et Nicolao
Episcopio, MDLXIII._
542 pages with 6 pages of index.
*1580 (folio):
_Bergwerck Buch: Darinn nicht Allain alle Empte Instrument
Gezeug und alles so zu diesem Handel gehoerig mit figuren
vorgebildet und klaerlich beschriben, etc. Durch den
Hochgelehrten ... Herrn Georgium Agricolam der Artzney Doctorn
und Burgermeister der Churfuerstlichen Statt Kemnitz erstlich
mit grossem fleyss muehe und arbeit in Latein beschriben und in
zwoelff Buecher abgetheilt: Nachmals aber durch den Achtbarn und
auch Hochgelehrten Philippum Bechium Philosophen Artzt und in
der Loeblichen Universitet zu Basel Professorn mit sonderm
fleyss Teutscher Nation zu gut verteutscht und an Tag geben.
Allen Berckherrn Gewercken Berckmeistern Geschwornen
Schichtmeistern Steigern Berckheuwern Waeschern und Schmeltzern
nicht allein nuetzlich und dienstlich sondern auch zu wissem
hochnotwendig._
_Mit Roemischer Keys. May Freyheit nicht nachzutrucken._
_Getruckt in der Keyserlichen Reichsstatt, Franckfort am Mayn,
etc. Im Jahr MDLXXX._
*1612 (12mo):
_Georgii Agricolae De ortu et causis subterraneorum Lib. V. De
natura eorum quae effluunt ex terra, Lib. IV. De natura
fossilium Lib. X. De veteribus et novis metallis Lib. II.
Bermannus, sive de re metallica Dialogus. Interpretatio
Germanica vocum rei metallicae._
_Addito Indice faecundissimo, Plurimos jam annos a Germanis, et
externarum quoque nationum doctissimis viris, valde desiderati
et expetiti._
_Nunc vero in rei metallicae studiosorum gratiam recensiti, in
certa capita distributi, capitum argumentis, et nonnullis
scholiis marginalibus illustrati a Johanne Sigfrido Philos: et
Medicinae Doctore et in illustri Julia Professore ordinario._
_Accesserunt De metallicis rebus et nominibus observationes
variae et eruditae, ex schedis Georgii Fabricii, quibus ea
potissimum explicantur, quae Georgius Agricola praeteriit_.
_Wittebergae Sumptibus Zachariae Schuereri Bibliopolae Typis
Andreae Ruedingeri, 1612._
There are 970 pages in the work of Agricola proper, the notes
of Fabricius comprising a further 44 pages, and the index 112
pages.
*1614 (8vo):
_Georgii Agricolae De Animantibus Subterraneis Liber Hactenus a
multis desideratus, nunc vero in gratiam studiosorum seorsim
editus, in certa capita divisus, capitum argumentis et
nonnullis marginalibus exornatus a Johanne Sigfrido, Phil. &
Med. Doctore_, etc.
_Wittebergae. Typis Meisnerianis: Impensis Zachariae. Schureri
Bibliop. Anno. MDCXIV._
*1621 (folio):
_Georgii Agricolae Kempnicensis Medici ac Philosophi Clariss.
De Re Metallica Libri XII Quibus Officia, Instrumenta,
Machinae, ac omnia denique ad metallicam spectantia, non modo
Luculentissime describuntur; sed et per effigies, suis locis
insertas adjunctis Latinis, Germanicisque; appellationibus, ita
ob oculos ponuntur, ut clarius tradi non possint._
_Ejusdem De Animantibus Subterraneis Liber, ab Autore
recognitus cum Indicibus diversis quicquid in Opere tractatum
est, pulchre demonstrantibus._
(Vignette of man at assay furnace).
_Basileae Helvet. Sumptibus itemque typis chalcographicis
Ludovici Regis Anno MDCXXI._
502 pages and 58 pages glossary and indices.
*1621 (folio):
_Bergwerck Buch Darinnen nicht allein alle Empter Instrument
Gezeug und alles so zu disem Handel gehoerig mit Figuren
vorgebildet und klaerlich beschrieben:.... Durch den
Hochgelehrten und weitberuehmten Herrn Georgium Agricolam, der
Artzney Doctorn und Burgermeister der Churfuerstlichen Statt
Kemnitz Erstlich mit grossem fleiss muehe und arbeit in Latein
beschrieben und in zwoelff Buecher abgetheilt: Nachmals aber
durch den Achtbarn und auch Hochgelehrten Philippum Bechium.
Philosophen, Artzt, und in der loblichen Universitet zu Basel
Professorn mit sonderm fleiss Teutscher Nation zu gut
verteutscht und an Tag geben und nun zum andern mal getruckt._
_Allen Bergherrn Gewercken Bergmeistern Geschwornen
Schichtmeistern Steigern Berghaewern Waeschern unnd Schmeltzern
nicht allein nutzlich und dienstlich sondern auch zu wissen
hochnohtwendig._
(Vignette of man at assay furnace).
_Getruckt zu Basel inverlegung Ludwig Koenigs Im Jahr, MDCXXI._
491 pages 5 pages glossary--no index.
*1657 (folio):
_Georgii Agricolae Kempnicensis Medici ac Philosophi Clariss.
De Re Metallica Libri XII. Quibus Officia, instrumenta,
machinae, ac omnia denique ad metallicam spectantia, non modo
luculentissime describuntur: sed et per effigies, suis locis
insertas, adjunctis Latinis, Germanicisque appellationibus, ita
ob oculos ponuntur, ut clarius tradi non possint. Quibus
accesserunt hac ultima editione, Tractatus ejusdem argumenti,
ab eodem conscripti, sequentes._
_De Animantibus Subterraneis Lib. I., De Ortu et Causis
Subterraneorum Lib. V., De Natura eorum quae effluunt ex Terra
Lib. IV., De Natura Fossilium Lib. X., De Veteribus et Novis
Metallis Lib. II., Bermannus sive de Re Metallica, Dialogus
Lib. I._
_Cum Indicibus diversis, quicquid in Opere tractatum est,
pulchre demonstrantibus._
(Vignette of assayer and furnace).
_Basileae Sumptibus et Typis Emanuelis Koenig. Anno MDCLVII._
Folio, 708 pages and 90 pages of glossary and indices. This is
a very serviceable edition of all of Agricola's important
works, and so far as we have noticed there are but few
typographical errors.
*1778 (8vo):
_Gespraech vom Bergwesen, wegen seiner Fuertrefflich keit aus dem
Lateinischen in das Deutsche uebersetzet, mit nuetzl. Anmerkungen
erlaeutert. u. mit einem ganz neuen Zusatze von Zlueglicher
Anstellung des Bergbaues u. von der Zugutemachung der Erze auf
den Huettenwerken versehen von Johann Gottlieb Stoer._
_Rotenburg a. d. Fulda, Hermstaedt 1778._ 180 pages.
*1806 (8vo):
_Georg Agricola's Bermannus eine Einleitung in die
metallurgischen Schriften desselben, uebersetzt und mit
Exkursionen herausgegeben von Friedrich August Schmid.
Haushalts- und Befahrungs-Protokollist im Churf. vereinigten
Bergamte zu St. Annaberg._
_Freyberg 1806. Bey Craz und Gerlach._
*1807-12 (8vo).
_Georg Agrikola's Mineralogische Schriften uebersetzt und mit
erlaeuternden Anmerkungen. Begleitet von Ernst Lehmann
Bergamts-Assessor, Berg- Gegen- und Receszschreiber in Dem
Koenigl. Saechs. Bergamte Voigtsberg der jenaischen Societaet fuer
die gesammte Mineralogie Ehrenmitgliede._
_Freyberg, 1807-12. Bey Craz und Gerlach._
This German translation consists of four parts: the first being
_De Ortu et Causis_, the second _De Natura eorum quae effluunt
ex terra_, and the third in two volumes _De Natura Fossilium_,
the fourth _De Veteribus et Novis Metallis_; with glossary and
index to the four parts.
We give the following notes on other possible prints, as a great many
references to the above works occur in various quarters, of date other
than the above. Unless otherwise convinced it is our belief that most of
these refer to the prints given above, and are due to error in giving
titles or dates. It is always possible that such prints do exist and
have escaped our search.
_De Re Metallica._ Leupold, Richter, Schmid, van der Linden, Mercklinus
and Eloy give an 8vo edition of _De Re Metallica_ without illustrations,
Schweinfurt, 1607. We have found no trace of this print. Leupold, van
der Linden, Richter, Schmid and Eloy mention an 8vo edition, Wittenberg,
1614. It is our belief that this refers to the 1612 Wittenberg edition
of the selected works, which contains a somewhat similar title referring
in reality to _Bermannus_, which was and is still continually confused
with _De Re Metallica_. Ferguson mentions a German edition, Schweinfurt,
8vo, 1687. We can find no trace of this; it may refer to the 1607
Schweinfurt edition mentioned above.
_De Natura Fossilium._ Leupold and Gatter refer to a folio edition of
1550. This was probably an error for either the 1546 or the 1558
editions. Watt refers to an edition of 1561 combined with _De Medicatis
Fontibus_. We find no trace of such edition, nor even that the latter
work was ever actually printed. He also refers to an edition of 1614 and
one of 1621, this probably being an error for the 1612 edition of the
subsidiary works and the _De Re Metallica_ of 1621. Leupold also refers
to an edition of 1622, this probably being an error for 1612.
_De Ortu et Causis._ Albinus, Hofmann, Jacobi, Schmid, Richter, and
Reuss mention an edition of 1544. This we believe to be an error in
giving the date of the dedication instead of that of the publication
(1546). Albinus and Ferguson give an edition of 1555, which date is, we
believe, an error for 1558. Ferguson gives an edition of the Italian
translation as 1559; we believe this should be 1550. Draud gives an
edition of 1621; probably this should be 1612.
_Bermannus._ Albinus, Schmid, Reuss, Richter, and Weinart give the first
edition as 1528. We have been unable to learn of any actual copy of that
date, and it is our belief that the date is taken from the dedication
instead of from the publication, and should be 1530. Leupold, Schmid,
and Reuss give an edition by Froben in 1549; we have been unable to
confirm this. Leupold also gives an edition of 1550 (folio), and Joecher
gives an edition of Geneva 1561 (folio); we have also been unable to
find this, and believe the latter to be a confusion with the _De Re
Metallica_ of 1561, as it is unlikely that _Bermannus_ would be
published by itself in folio. The catalogue of the library at Siena
(Vol. III., p. 78) gives _Il Bermanno, Vinegia_, 1550, 8vo. We have
found no trace of this edition elsewhere.
_De Mensuris et Ponderibus._ Albinus and Schmid mention an edition of
1539, and one of 1550. The Biographie Universelle, Paris, gives one of
1553, and Leupold one of 1714, all of which we have been unable to find.
An epitome of this work was published at various times, sometimes in
connection with editions of Vitruvius; so far as we are aware on the
following dates, 1552, 1585, 1586, 1829. There also appear extracts in
relation to liquid measures in works entitled _Vocabula rei numariae
ponderum et mensurarum_, etc. Paul Eber and Caspar Peucer, _Lipsiae_,
1549, and in same Wittenberg, 1552.
_De Veteribus et Novis Metallis._ Watt gives an edition, Basel, 1530,
and Paris, 1541; we believe this is incorrect and refers to _Bermannus_.
Reuss mentions a folio print of Basel, 1550. We consider this very
unlikely.
_De Natura eorum quae Effluunt ex Terra._ Albinus, Hofmann, Schmid,
Jacobi, Richter, Reuss, and Weinart give an edition of 1545. We believe
this is again the dedication instead of the publication date (1546).
_De Animantibus Subterraneis._ Van der Linden gives an edition at
Schweinfurt, 8vo, 1607. Although we have been unable to find a copy,
this slightly confirms the possibility of an octavo edition of _De Re
Metallica_ of this date, as they were usually published together.
Leupold gives assurance that he handled an octavo edition of Wittenberg,
1612, _cum notis Johann Sigfridi_. We think he confused this with
_Bermannus sive de re metallica_ of that date and place. Schmid,
Richter, and Draud all refer to an edition similarly annotated, Leipzig,
1613, 8vo. We have no trace of it otherwise.
UNPUBLISHED WORKS ON SUBJECTS RELATED TO MINING.
Agricola apparently projected a complete series of works covering the
whole range of subjects relating to minerals: geology, mineralogy,
mining, metallurgy, history of metals, their uses, laws, etc. In a
letter[5] from Fabricius to Meurer (March, 1553), the former states that
Agricola intended writing about 30 books (chapters) in addition to those
already published, and to the twelve books _De Re Metallica_ which he
was about to publish. Apparently a number of these works were either
unfinished or unpublished at Agricola's death, for his friend George
Fabricius seems to have made some effort to secure their publication,
but did not succeed, through lack of sympathy on the part of Agricola's
family. Hofmann[6] states on this matter: "His intentions were
frustrated mainly through the lack of support with which he was met by
the heirs of the Mineralogist. These, as he complains to a Councillor of
the Electorate, Christopher von Carlovitz, in 1556, and to Paul Eber in
another letter, adopted a grudging and ungracious tone with regard to
his proposal to collect all Agricola's works left behind, and they only
consented to communicate to him as much as they were obliged by express
command of the Prince. At the Prince's command they showed him a little,
but he supposed that there was much more that they had suppressed or not
preserved. The attempt to purchase some of the works--the Elector had
given Fabricius money for the purpose (30 nummos unciales)--proved
unavailing, owing to the disagreeableness of Agricola's heirs. It is no
doubt due to these regrettable circumstances that all the works of the
industrious scholar did not come down to us." The "disagreeableness" was
probably due to the refusal of the Protestant townsfolk to allow the
burial of Agricola in the Cathedral at Chemnitz. So far as we know the
following are the unpublished or lost works.
_De Jure et Legibus Metallicis._ This work on mining law is mentioned at
the end of Book IV. of _De Re Metallica_, and it is referred to by
others apparently from that source. We have been unable to find any
evidence that it was ever published.
_De Varia temperie sive Constitutione Aeris._ In a letter[7] to Johann
Naevius, Agricola refers to having a work in hand of this title.
_De Metallis et Machinis._ Hofmann[8] states that a work of this title
by Agricola, dated Basel 1543, was sold to someone in America by a
Frankfort-on-Main bookseller in 1896. This is apparently the only
reference to it that we know of, and it is possibly a confusion of
titles or a "separate" of some chapters from _De Re Metallica_.
_De Ortu Metallorum Defensio ad Jacobum Scheckium._ Referred to by
Fabricius in a letter[9] to Meurer. If published was probably only a
tract.
_De Terrae Motu._ In a letter[10] from Agricola to Meurer (Jan. 1, 1544)
is some reference which might indicate that he was formulating a work on
earthquakes under this title, or perhaps may be only incidental to the
portions of _De Ortu et Causis_ dealing with this subject.
_Commentariorum in quibus utriusque linguae scriptorum locos difficiles
de rebus subterraneis explicat, Libri VI._ Agricola apparently partially
completed a work under some such title as this, which was to embrace
chapters entitled _De Methodis_ and _De Demonstratione_. The main object
seems to have been a commentary on the terms and passages in the
classics relating to mining, mineralogy, etc. It is mentioned in the
Preface of _De Veteribus et Novis Metallis_, and in a letter[11] from
one of Froben's firm to Agricola in 1548, where it is suggested that
Agricola should defer sending his new commentaries until the following
spring. The work is mentioned by Albinus[12], and in a letter from Georg
Fabricius to Meurer on the 2nd Jan. 1548,[13] in another from G.
Fabricius, to his brother Andreas on Oct. 28, 1555,[14] and in a third
from Fabricius to Melanchthon on December 8th, 1555[15], in which regret
is expressed that the work was not completed by Agricola.
WRITINGS NOT RELATED TO MINING, INCLUDING LOST OR UNPUBLISHED WORKS.
_Latin Grammar._ This was probably the first of Agricola's publications,
the full title to which is _Georgii Agricolae Glaucii Libellus de prima
ac simplici institutione grammatica. Excusum Lipsiae in Officina
Melchioris Lottheri. Anno MDXX._ (4to), 24 folios.[16] There is some
reason to believe that Agricola also published a Greek grammar, for
there is a letter[17] from Agricola dated March 18th, 1522, in which
Henicus Camitianus is requested to send a copy to Stephan Roth.
_Theological Tracts._ There are preserved in the Zwickau Rathsschul
Library[18] copies by Stephan Roth of two tracts, the one entitled,
_Deum non esse auctorem Peccati_, the other, _Religioso patri Petri
Fontano, sacre theologie Doctori eximio Georgius Agricola salutem dicit
in Christo_. The former was written from Leipzig in 1522, and the
latter, although not dated, is assigned to the same period. Both are
printed in _Zwei theologische Abhandlungen des Georg Agricola_, an
article by Otto Clemen, _Neuen Archiv fur Saechsische Geschichte_, etc.,
Dresden, 1900. There is some reason (from a letter of Fabricius to
Melanchthon, Dec. 8th, 1555) to believe that Agricola had completed a
work on the unwritten traditions concerning the Church. There is no
further trace of it.
_Galen._ Agricola appears to have been joint author with Andreas
Asulanus and J. B. Opizo of a revision of this well-known Greek work. It
was published at Venice in 1525, under the title of _Galeni Librorum_,
etc., etc. Agricola's name is mentioned in a prefatory letter to Opizo
by Asulanus.
_De Bello adversus Turcam._ This political tract, directed against the
Turks, was written in Latin and first printed by Froben, Basel, 1528. It
was translated into German apparently by Agricola's friend Laurenz
Berman, and published under the title _Oration Anrede Und Vormanunge ...
widder den Tuercken_ by Frederich Peypus, Nuremberg, in 1531 (8vo), and
either in 1530 or 1531 by Wolfgang Stoeckel, Dresden, 4to. It was again
printed in Latin by Froben, Basel, 1538, 4to; by H. Grosius, Leipzig,
1594, 8vo; it was included among other works published on the same
subject by Nicholas Reusnerus, Leipzig, 1595; by Michael Lantzenberger,
Frankfurt-am-Main, 1597, 4to. Further, there is reference by Watt to an
edition at Eisleben, 1603, of which we have no confirmation. There is
another work on the subject, or a revision by the author mentioned by
Albinus[19] as having been, after Agricola's death, sent to Froben by
George Fabricius to be printed; nothing further appears in this matter
however.
_De Peste._ This work on the Plague appears to have been first printed
by Froben, Basel, 1554, 8vo. The work was republished at Schweinfurt,
1607, and at Augsburg in 1614, under various editors. It would appear
from Albinus[20] that the work was revised by Agricola and in Froben's
hands for publication after the author's death.
_De Medicatis Fontibus._ This work is referred to by Agricola himself in
_De Natura Eorum_,[21] in the prefatory letter in _De Veteribus et Novis
Metallis_; and Albinus[22] quotes a letter of Agricola to Sebastian
Munster on the subject. Albinus states (_Bergchronik_, p. 193) that to
his knowledge it had not yet been published. Conrad Gesner, in his work
_Excerptorum et observationum de Thermis_, which is reprinted in _De
Balneis_, Venice, 1553, after Agricola's _De Natura Eorum_, states[23]
concerning Agricola _in libris quos de medicatis fontibus instituerit
copiosus se dicturum pollicetur_. Watt mentions it as having been
published in 1549, 1561, 1614, and 1621. He, however, apparently
confuses it with _De Natura Eorum_. We are unable to state whether it
was ever printed or not. A note of inquiry to the principal libraries in
Germany gave a negative result.
_De Putredine solidas partes humani corporis corrumpente._ This work,
according to Albinus was received by Fabricius a year after Agricola's
death, but whether it was published or not is uncertain.[24]
_Castigationes in Hippocratem et Galenum._ This work is referred to by
Agricola in the preface of _Bermannus_, and Albinus[25] mentions several
letters referring to the preparation of the work. There is no evidence
of publication.
_Typographia Mysnae et Toringiae._ It seems from Agricola's letter[26]
to Munster that Agricola prepared some sort of a work on the history of
Saxony and of the Royal Family thereof at the command of the Elector
and sent it to him when finished, but it was never published as written
by Agricola. Albinus, Hofmann, and Struve give some details of letters
in reference to it. Fabricius in a letter[27] dated Nov. 11, 1536 asks
Meurer to send Agricola some material for it; in a letter from Fabricius
to Meurer dated Oct. 30, 1554, it appears that the Elector had granted
Agricola 200 thalers to assist in the work. After Agricola's death the
material seems to have been handed over to Fabricius, who made use of it
(as he states in the preface) in preparing the work he was commissioned
by the Elector to write, the title of which was, _Originum
illustrissimae stirpis Saxonicae Libri_, and was published in Leipzig,
1597. It includes on page 880 a fragment of a work entitled _Oratio de
rebus Gestis Ernesti et Alberti Ducum Saxoniae_, by Agricola.
WORKS WRONGLY ATTRIBUTED TO GEORGIUS AGRICOLA.
The following works have been at one time or another wrongly attributed
to Georgius Agricola:--
_Galerazeya sive Revelator Secretorum De Lapide Philosophorum_, Cologne,
1531 and 1534, by one Daniel Agricola, which is merely a controversial
book with a catch-title, used by Catholics for converting heretics.
_Rechter Gebrauch der Alchimey_, a book of miscellaneous receipts which
treats very slightly of transmutation.[28]
_Chronik der Stadt Freiberg_ by a Georg Agricola (died 1630), a preacher
at Freiberg.
_Dominatores Saxonici_, by the same author.
_Breviarum de Asse_ by Guillaume Bude.
_De Inventione Dialectica_ by Rudolph Agricola.
FOOTNOTES:
[1] See footnote 4, page 1.
[2] System of Mineralogy.
[3] The following are the titles of the works referred to in this
discussion:--
Petrus Albinus: _Meissnische Land und Berg Chronica In welcher ein
wollnstendige description des Landes_, etc., Dresden, 1590 (contains
part I, _Commentatorium de Mysnia_). _Newe Chronica und Beschreibung des
Landes zu Meissen_, pp. 1 to 449, besides preface and index, and Part
II. _Meissnische Bergk Chronica_, Dresden, 1590, pp. 1 to 205, besides
preface and index.
Adam Daniel Richter: _Umstaendliche ... Chronica der ... Stadt Chemnitz
nebst beygefuegten Urkunden_, 2 pts. 4to, Zittau & Leipzig, 1767.
Ben. G. Weinart: _Versuch einer Litteratur d. Saechsischen Geschichte und
Staats kunde_, Leipzig, 1885.
Friedrich August Schmid: _Georg Agrikola's Bermannus: Einleitung in die
metallurgischen Schriften desselben_, Freyberg, Craz & Gerlach. 1806,
pp. VIII., 1-260.
Franz Ambros Reuss: _Mineralogische Geographie van Boehmen_. 2 vols. 4to,
Dresden, 1793-97. (Agricola Vol. I, p. 2).
Jacob Leupold: _Prodromus Bibliothecae Metallicae_, corrected,
continued, and augmented by F. E. Brueckmann. Wolfenbuettel, 1732, s.v.
Agricola.
Christian Gottlieb Goecher: _Allgemeines Gelehrten-Lexicon_, with
continuation and supplements by Adelung, Leipzig, 1750, s.v. Agricola.
John Anton Van der Linden: _De Scriptis medicis, Libri duo_, Amsterdam,
1662, s.v. Georgius Agricola.
Nicolas Francois Joseph Eloy: _Dictionnaire Historique de la Medecine_,
Liege & Francfort (chez J. F. Bassompierre), 1755, 8vo (Agricola p. 28,
vol. I).
Georg Abraham Mercklinus: _Lindenius Renovatus de scriptis medicis
continuati ... amplificati_, etc., Amsterdam, 1686, s.v. Georgius
Agricola.
John Ferguson: _Bibliotheca Chemica_: A catalogue of the Alchemical,
Chemical, and Pharmaceutical books in the collection of the late James
Young of Kelly & Durris, Esq., L.L.D., F.R.S., F.R.S.E. Glasgow, 1906,
4to, 2 vols., s.v. Agricola.
Christoph Wilhelm Gatterer: _Allgemeines Repertorium der
mineralogischen, bergwerks und Salz werkswissenschaftlichen Literatur_,
Goettingen, 1798, vol. I.
Dr. Reinhold Hofmann: _Dr. Georg Agricola, Ein Gelehrtenleben aus dem
Zeitalter der Reformation_, 8vo, Gotha, 1905.
Georg Heinrich Jacobi: _Der Mineralog Georgius Agricola und sein
Verhaeltnis zur wissenschaft seiner Zeit_, etc., 8vo. Zwickau (1889),
(_Dissertation_--Leipzig).
Georg Draud: _Bibliotheca Classica_, Frankfurt-am-Main, 1611.
B. G. Struve: _Bibliotheca Saxonica_, 8vo, Halle, 1736.
[4] Albinus states (p. 354): _Omnes simul editi Anno. 1549, iterum 1550,
Basileae_, as though two separate editions.
[5] _G. Fabricii epistolae ad W. Meurerum et alios aequales_, by
Baumgarten-Crusius, Leipzig, 1845, p. 83.
[6] _Dr. Georg Agricola_, Gotha, 1905, pp. 60-61.
[7] Albinus, _Landchronik_, pp. 354-5.
[8] _Dr. Georg Agricola_, p. 63.
[9] _Baumgarten-Crusius_, p. 115.
[10] _Virorum Clarorum Saec. XVI. et XVII._ _Epistolae Selectae_ by
Ernst Weber, Leipzig, 1894, p. 2.
[11] Nicholas Episcopius to Georg Agricola, Sept. 17, 1548, published in
Schmid's _Bermannus_ p. 38. See also Hofmann, op. cit. pp. 62 and 140.
[12] _Meissnische Landchronik_, Dresden, 1589, p. 354.
[13] Printed in Baumgarten-Crusius, pp. 48-49, letter XLVIII.
[14] Printed in Hermann Peter's _Meissner Jahresbericht der
Fuerstenschule_, 1891, p. 24.
[15] Baumgarten-Crusius. _Georgii Fabricii Chemnicensis Epistolae_,
Leipzig, 1845, p. 139.
[16] There is a copy of this work in the Rathsschul Library at Zwickau.
[17] In the Rathsschul Library at Zwickau.
[18] Contained in Vols. XXXVII. and XL. of Stephan Roth's
_Kollectanenbaende_ Volumes of Transcripts.
[19] _Landchronik_, p. 354.
[20] Op. cit., p. 354.
[21] Book IV.
[22] Op. cit., p. 355.
[23] Page 291.
[24] See Baumgarten-Crusius, p. 114, letter from Georg Fabricius.
[25] Op. cit., p. 354.
[26] Albinus, Op. cit., p. 355.
[27] Baumgarten-Crusius, p. 2.
[28] See Ferguson, _Bibliotheca Chemica_, s.v. Daniel Agricola.
APPENDIX B.
ANCIENT AUTHORS.
We give the following brief notes on early works containing some
reference to mineralogy, mining, or metallurgy, to indicate the
literature available to Agricola and for historical notes bearing upon
the subject. References to these works in the footnotes may be most
easily consulted through the personal index.
GREEK AUTHORS.--Only a very limited Greek literature upon subjects
allied to mining or natural science survives. The whole of the material
of technical interest could be reproduced on less than twenty of these
pages. Those of most importance are: Aristotle (384-322 B.C.),
Theophrastus (371-288 B.C.), Diodorus Siculus (1st Century B.C.), Strabo
(64 B.C.-25 A.D.), and Dioscorides (1st Century A.D.).
Aristotle, apart from occasional mineralogical or metallurgical
references in _De Mirabilibus_, is mostly of interest as the author of
the Peripatetic theory of the elements and the relation of these to the
origin of stones and metals. Agricola was, to a considerable measure, a
follower of this school, and their views colour much of his writings.
We, however, discuss elsewhere[1] at what point he departed from them.
Especially in _De Ortu et Causis_ does he quote largely from Aristotle's
_Meteorologica_, _Physica_, and _De Coelo_ on these subjects. There is a
spurious work on stones attributed to Aristotle of some interest to
mineralogists. It was probably the work of some Arab early in the Middle
Ages.
Theophrastus, the principal disciple of Aristotle, appears to have
written at least two works relating to our subject--one "On Stones", and
the other on metals, mining or metallurgy, but the latter is not extant.
The work "On Stones" was first printed in Venice in 1498, and the Greek
text, together with a fair English translation by Sir John Hill, was
published in London in 1746 under the title "Theophrastus on Stones";
the translation is, however, somewhat coloured with Hill's views on
mineralogy. The work comprises 120 short paragraphs, and would, if
reproduced, cover but about four of these pages. In the first paragraphs
are the Peripatetic view of the origin of stones and minerals, and upon
the foundation of Aristotle he makes some modifications. The principal
interest in Theophrastus' work is the description of minerals; the
information given is, however, such as might be possessed by any
ordinary workman, and betrays no particular abilities for natural
philosophy. He enumerates various exterior characteristics, such as
colour, tenacity, hardness, smoothness, density, fusibility, lustre, and
transparence, and their quality of reproduction, and then proceeds to
describe various substances, but usually omits his enumerated
characteristics. Apart from the then known metals and certain "earths"
(ochre, marls, clay, etc.), it is possible to identify from his
descriptions the following rocks and minerals:--marble, pumice, onyx,
gypsum, pyrites, coal, bitumen, amber, azurite, chrysocolla, realgar,
orpiment, cinnabar, quartz in various forms, lapis lazuli, emerald,
sapphire, diamond, and ruby. Altogether there are some sixteen distinct
mineral species. He also describes the touchstone and its uses, the
making of white-lead and verdigris, and of quicksilver from cinnabar.
Diodorus Siculus was a Greek native of Sicily. His "historical library"
consisted of some 40 books, of which parts of 15 are extant. The first
print was in Latin, 1472, and in Greek in 1539; the first translation
into English was by Thomas Stocker, London, 1568, and later by G. Booth,
1700. We have relied upon Booth's translation, but with some amendments
by friends, to gain more literal statement. Diodorus, so far as relates
to our subject, gives merely the occasional note of a traveller. The
most interesting paragraphs are his quotation from Agatharchides on
Egyptian mining and upon British tin.
Strabo was also a geographer. His work consists of 17 books, and
practically all survive. We have relied upon the most excellent
translation of Hamilton and Falconer, London, 1903, the only one in
English. Mines and minerals did not escape such an acute geographer, and
the matters of greatest interest are those with relation to Spanish
mines.
Dioscorides was a Greek physician who wrote entirely from the standpoint
of materia medica, most of his work being devoted to herbs; but Book V.
is devoted to minerals and rocks, and their preparation for medicinal
purposes. The work has never been translated into English, and we have
relied upon the Latin translation of Matthioli, Venice, 1565, and notes
upon the Greek text prepared for us by Mr. C. Katopodes. In addition to
most of the substances known before, he, so far as can be identified,
adds schist, _cadmia_ (blende or calamine), _chalcitis_ (copper
sulphide), _misy_, _melanteria_, _sory_ (copper or iron sulphide
oxidation minerals). He describes the making of certain artificial
products, such as copper oxides, vitriol, litharge, _pompholyx_, and
_spodos_ (zinc and/or arsenical oxides). His principal interest for us,
however, lies in the processes set out for making his medicines.
Occasional scraps of information relating to the metals or mines in some
connection are to be found in many other Greek writers, and in
quotations by them from others which are not now extant, such as
Polybius, Posidonius, etc. The poets occasionally throw a gleam of
light on ancient metallurgy, as for instance in Homer's description of
Vulcan's foundry; while the historians, philosophers, statesmen, and
physicians, among them Herodotus, Xenophon, Demosthenes, Galen, and many
others, have left some incidental references to the metals and mining,
helpful to gleaners from a field, which has been almost exhausted by
time. Even Archimedes made pumps, and Hero surveying instruments for
mines.
ROMAN AUTHORS.--Pre-eminent among all ancient writers on these subjects
is, of course, Pliny, and in fact, except some few lines by Vitruvius,
there is practically little else in extant Roman literature of technical
interest, for the metallurgical metaphors of the poets and orators were
threadbare by this time, and do not excite so much interest as upon
their first appearance among the Greeks and Hebrews.
Pliny (Caius Plinius Secundus) was born 23 A.D., and was killed by
eruption of Vesuvius 79 A.D. His Natural History should be more properly
called an encyclopaedia, the whole comprising 37 books; but only portions
of the last four books relate to our subject, and over one-half of the
material there is upon precious stones. To give some rough idea of the
small quantity of even this, the most voluminous of ancient works upon
our subject, we have made an estimate that the portions of metallurgical
character would cover, say, three pages of this text, on mining two
pages, on building and precious stones about ten pages. Pliny and
Dioscorides were contemporaries, and while Pliny nowhere refers to the
Greek, internal evidence is most convincing, either that they drew from
the same source, or that Pliny drew from Dioscorides. We have,
therefore, throughout the text given precedence in time to the Greek
author in matters of historical interest. The works of Pliny were first
printed at Venice in 1469. They have passed dozens of editions in
various languages, and have been twice translated into English. The
first translation by Philemon Holland, London, 1601, is quite
impossible. The second translation, by Bostock and Riley, London, 1855,
was a great advance, and the notes are most valuable, but in general the
work has suffered from a freedom justifiable in the translation of
poetry, but not in science. We have relied upon the Latin edition of
Janus, Leipzig, 1870. The frequent quotations in our footnotes are
sufficient indication of the character of Pliny's work. In general it
should be remembered that he was himself but a compiler of information
from others, and, so far as our subjects are concerned, of no other
experience than most travellers. When one considers the reliability of
such authors to-day on technical subjects, respect for Pliny is much
enhanced. Further, the text is no doubt much corrupted through the
generations of transcription before it was set in type. So far as can be
identified with any assurance, Pliny adds but few distinct minerals to
those enumerated by Theophrastus and Dioscorides. For his metallurgical
and mining information we refer to the footnotes, and in general it may
be said that while those skilled in metallurgy can dimly see in his
statements many metallurgical operations, there is little that does not
require much deduction to arrive at a conclusion. On geology he offers
no new philosophical deductions of consequence; the remote connection of
building stones is practically all that can be enumerated, lest one
build some assumption of a knowledge of ore-deposits on the use of the
word "vein". One point of great interest to this work is that in his
search for Latin terms for technical purposes Agricola relied almost
wholly upon Pliny, and by some devotion to the latter we have been able
to disentangle some very puzzling matters of nomenclature in _De Re
Metallica_, of which the term _molybdaena_ may be cited as a case in
point.
Vitruvius was a Roman architect of note of the 1st Century B.C. His work
of ten books contains some very minor references to pumps and machinery,
building stones, and the preparation of pigments, the latter involving
operations from which metallurgical deductions can occasionally be
safely made. His works were apparently first printed in Rome in 1496.
There are many editions in various languages, the first English
translation being from the French in 1692. We have relied upon the
translation of Joseph Gwilt, London, 1875, with such alterations as we
have considered necessary.
MEDIAEVAL AUTHORS.--For convenience we group under this heading the
writers of interest from Roman times to the awakening of learning in the
early 16th Century. Apart from Theophilus, they are mostly alchemists;
but, nevertheless, some are of great importance in the history of
metallurgy and chemistry. Omitting a horde of lesser lights upon whom we
have given some data under the author's preface, the works principally
concerned are those ascribed to Avicenna, Theophilus, Geber, Albertus
Magnus, Roger Bacon, and Basil Valentine. Judging from the Preface to
_De Re Metallica_, and from quotations in his subsidiary works, Agricola
must have been not only familiar with a wide range of alchemistic
material, but also with a good deal of the Arabic literature, which had
been translated into Latin. The Arabs were, of course, the only race
which kept the light of science burning during the Dark Ages, and their
works were in considerable vogue at Agricola's time.
Avicenna (980-1037) was an Arabian physician of great note, a translator
of the Greek classics into Arabic, and a follower of Aristotle to the
extent of attempting to reconcile the Peripatetic elements with those of
the alchemists. He is chiefly known to the world through the works which
he compiled on medicine, mostly from the Greek and Latin authors. These
works for centuries dominated the medical world, and were used in
certain European Universities until the 17th century. A great many works
are attributed to him, and he is copiously quoted by Agricola,
principally in his _De Ortu et Causis_, apparently for the purpose of
exposure.
Theophilus was a Monk and the author of a most illuminating work,
largely upon working metal and its decoration for ecclesiastical
purposes. An excellent translation, with the Latin text, was published
by Robert Hendrie, London, 1847, under the title "An Essay upon various
Arts, in three books, by Theophilus, called also Rugerus, Priest and
Monk." Hendrie, for many sufficient reasons, places the period of
Theophilus as the latter half of the 11th century. The work is mainly
devoted to preparing pigments, making glass, and working metals, and
their conversion into ecclesiastical paraphernalia, such as mural
decoration, pictures, windows, chalices, censers, bells, organs, etc.
However, he incidentally describes the making of metallurgical furnaces,
cupellation, parting gold and silver by cementation with salt, and by
melting with sulphur, the smelting of copper, liquating lead from it,
and the refining of copper under a blast with poling.
Geber was until recent years considered to be an Arab alchemist of a
period somewhere between the 7th and 12th centuries. A mere bibliography
of the very considerable literature which exists in discussion of who,
where, and at what time the author was, would fill pages. Those who are
interested may obtain a start upon such references from Hermann Kopp's
_Beitraege zur Geschichte der Chemie_, Braunschweig, 1875, and in John
Ferguson's _Bibliotheca Chemica_, Glasgow, 1906. Berthelot, in his
_Chimie au Moyen Age_, Paris, 1893, considers the works under the name
of Geber were not in the main of Arabic origin, but composed by some
Latin scholar in the 13th century. In any event, certain works were,
under this name, printed in Latin as early as 1470-80, and have passed
innumerable editions since. They were first translated into English by
Richard Russell, London, 1678, and we have relied upon this and the
Nuremberg edition in Latin of 1541. This work, even assuming Berthelot's
view, is one of the most important in the history of chemistry and
metallurgy, and is characterised by a directness of statement unique
among alchemists. The making of the mineral acids--certainly nitric and
_aqua regia_, and perhaps hydrochloric and sulphuric--are here first
described. The author was familiar with saltpetre, sal-ammoniac, and
alkali, and with the acids he prepared many salts for the first time. He
was familiar with amalgamation, cupellation, the separation of gold and
silver by cementation with salt and by nitric acid. His views on the
primary composition of bodies dominated the alchemistic world for
centuries. He contended that all metals were composed of "spiritual"
sulphur (or arsenic, which he seems to consider a special form of
sulphur) and quicksilver, varying proportions and qualities yielding
different metals. The more the quicksilver, the more "perfect" the
metal.
Albertus Magnus (Albert von Bollstadt) was a Dominican Monk, afterwards
Bishop, born about 1205, and died about 1280. He was rated the most
learned man of his time, and evidence of his literary activities lies in
the complete edition of his works issued by Pierre Jammy, Lyons, 1651,
which comprises 21 folio volumes. However, there is little doubt that a
great number of works attributed to him, especially upon alchemy, are
spurious. He covered a wide range of theology, logic, alchemy, and
natural science, and of the latter the following works which concern our
subject are considered genuine:--_De Rebus Metallicis et Mineralibus_,
_De Generatione et Corruptione_, and _De Meteoris_. They are little more
than compilations and expositions of the classics muddled with the
writings of the Arabs, and in general an attempt to conciliate the
Peripatetic and Alchemistic schools. His position in the history of
science has been greatly over-estimated. However, his mineralogy is,
except for books on gems, the only writing of any consequence at all on
the subject between Pliny and Agricola, and while there are but two or
three minerals mentioned which are not to be found in the ancient
authors, this work, nevertheless, deserves some place in the history of
science, especially as some attempt at classification is made. Agricola
devotes some thousands of words to the refutation of his "errors."
Roger Bacon (1214-1294) was a Franciscan Friar, a lecturer at Oxford,
and a man of considerable scientific attainments for his time. He was
the author of a large number of mathematical, philosophical, and
alchemistic treatises. The latter are of some importance in the history
of chemistry, but have only minute bearing upon metallurgy, and this
chiefly as being one of the earliest to mention saltpetre.
Basil Valentine is the reputed author of a number of alchemistic works,
of which none appeared in print until early in the 17th century.
Internal evidence seems to indicate that the "Triumphant Chariot of
Antimony" is the only one which may possibly be authentic, and could not
have been written prior to the end of the 15th or early 16th century,
although it has been variously placed as early as 1350. To this work has
been accredited the first mention of sulphuric and hydrochloric acid,
the separation of gold and silver by the use of antimony (sulphide), the
reduction of the antimony sulphide to the metal, the extraction of
copper by the precipitation of the sulphate with iron, and the discovery
of various antimonial salts. At the time of the publication of works
ascribed to Valentine practically all these things were well known, and
had been previously described. We are, therefore, in much doubt as to
whether this author really deserves any notice in the history of
metallurgy.
EARLY 16th CENTURY WORKS.--During the 16th century, and prior to _De Re
Metallica_, there are only three works of importance from the point of
view of mining technology--the _Nuetzlich Bergbuechlin_, the
_Probierbuechlein_, and Biringuccio's _De La Pirotechnia_. There are also
some minor works by the alchemists of some interest for isolated
statements, particularly those of Paracelsus. The three works mentioned,
however, represent such a stride of advance over anything previous,
that they merit careful consideration.
_Eyn Nuetzlich Bergbuechlin._ Under this title we frequently refer to a
little booklet on veins and ores, published at the beginning of the 16th
century. The title page of our copy is as below:--
[Illustration 610 (Title page)]
This book is small 8vo, comprises 24 folios without pagination, and has
no typographical indications upon the title page, but the last line in
the book reads: _Gedruckt zu Erffurd durch Johan Loersfelt, 1527_.
Another edition in our possession, that of "Frankfurt am Meyn", 1533, by
Christian Egenolph, is entitled _Bergwerk und Probierbuechlin_, etc., and
contains, besides the above, an extract and plates from the
_Probierbuechlein_ (referred to later on), and a few recipes for assay
tests. All of these booklets, of which we find mention, comprise
instructions from Daniel, a skilled miner, to Knappius, "his mining
boy". Although the little books of this title are all anonymous, we are
convinced, largely from the statement in the Preface of _De Re
Metallica_, that one Calbus of Freiberg was the original author of this
work. Agricola says: "Two books have been written in our tongue: the one
on the assaying of mineral substances and metals, somewhat confused,
whose author is unknown; the other 'On Veins', of which Pandulfus Anglus
is also said to have written, _although the German book was written by
Calbus of Freiberg, a well-known doctor; but neither of them
accomplished the task he had begun_." He again refers to Calbus at the
end of Book III.[2] of _De Re Metallica_, and gives an almost verbatim
quotation from the _Nuetzlich Bergbuechlin_. Jacobi[3] says: "Calbus
Fribergius, so called by Agricola himself, is certainly no other than
the Freiberg doctor, Ruehlein von C(K)albe." There are also certain
internal evidences that support Agricola's statement, for the work was
evidently written in Meissen, and the statement of Agricola that the
book was unfinished is borne out by a short dialogue at the end of the
earlier editions, designed to introduce further discussion. Calbus (or
Dr. Ulrich Ruehlein von Kalbe) was a very active citizen of Freiberg,
having been a town councillor in 1509, burgomaster in 1514, a
mathematician, mining surveyor, founder of a school of liberal arts, and
in general a physician. He died in 1523.[4] The book possesses great
literary interest, as it is, so far as we are aware, undoubtedly the
first work on mining geology, and in consequence we have spent some
effort in endeavour to find the date of its first appearance. Through
the courtesy of M. Polain, who has carefully examined for us the
_Nuetzlich Bergbuechlein_ described in Marie Pellechet's _Catalogue
General des Incunables des Bibliotheques Publiques de France_,[5] we
have ascertained that it is similar as regards text and woodcuts to the
Erfurt edition, 1527. This copy in the Bibliotheque Nationale is without
typographical indications, and M. Polain considers it very possible that
it is the original edition printed at the end of the fifteenth or
beginning of the sixteenth centuries. Mr. Bennett Brough,[6] quoting
Hans von Dechen,[7] states that the first edition was printed at
Augsburg in 1505, no copy of which seems to be extant. The Librarian at
the School of Mines at Freiberg has kindly furnished us with the
following notes as to the titles of the copies in that Institution:--(1)
_Eyn Wolgeordent und Nuetzlich Bergbuechlein_, etc., Worms, 1512[8] and
1518[9] (the place and date are written in), (2) the same as ours
(1527); (3) the same, Heinrich Steyner, Augsburg, 1534; (4) the same,
1539. On comparing these various editions (to which may be added one
probably published in Nuernberg by Friedrich Peypus in 1532[10]) we find
that they fall into two very distinct groups, characterised by their
contents and by two entirely different sets of woodcuts.
Group I.
(_a_) _Eyn Nuetzlich Bergbuechlein_ (in _Bibl. Nat._, Paris)
before 1500 (?).
(_b_) Ditto, Erfurt, 1527.
Group II.
(_c_) _Wolgeordent Nuetzlich Bergbuechlein_, Worms, Peter
Schoefern, 1512.
(_d_) _Wolgeordent Nuetzlich Bergbuechlein_, Worms, Peter
Schoefern, 1518.
(_e_) _Bergbuechlin von Erkantnus der Berckwerck_, Nuernberg,
undated, 1532 (?).
(_f_) _Bergwerckbuch & Probirbuch_, Christian Egenolph,
Frankfurt-am-Meyn, 1533.
(_g_) _Wolgeordent Nuetzlich Bergbuechlein_, Augsburg, Heinrich
Steyner, 1534.
(_h_) _Wolgeordent Nuetzlich Bergbuechlein_, Augsburg, Heinrich
Steyner, 1539.
There are also others of later date toward the end of the sixteenth
century.
The _Buechlein_ of Group I. terminate after the short dialogue between
Daniel and Knappius with the words: _Mitt welchen das kleinspeissig ertz
geschmeltzt soil werden_; whereas in those of Group II. these words are
followed by a short explanation of the signs used in the woodcuts, and
by directions for colouring the woodcuts, and in some cases by several
pages containing definitions of some 92 mining terms. In the editions of
Group I. the woodcut on the title page represents a miner hewing ore in
a vein and two others working a windlass. In those of Group II. the
woodcut on the title page represents one miner hewing on the surface,
another to the right carting away ore in a handcart, and two others
carrying between them a heavy timber. In our opinion Group I. represents
the older and original work of Calbus; but as we have not seen the copy
in the _Bibliotheque Nationale_, and the Augsburg edition of 1505 has
only so far been traced to Veith's catalogue,[11] the question of the
first edition cannot be considered settled at present. In any event, it
appears that the material grafted on in the second group was later, and
by various authors.
The earliest books comprise ten chapters, in which Daniel delivers about
6,000 words of instruction. The first four chapters are devoted to the
description of veins and the origin of the metals, of the remaining six
chapters one each to silver, gold, tin, copper, iron, lead, and
quicksilver. Among the mining terms are explained the meaning of country
rock (_zechstein_), hanging and footwalls (_hangends_ and _liegends_),
the strike (_streichen_), dip (_fallen_), and outcrop (_ausgehen_). Of
the latter two varieties are given, one of the "whole vein," the other
of the _gesteins_, which may be the ore-shoot. Various veins are
illustrated, and also for the first time a mining compass. The account
of the origin of the metals is a muddle of the Peripatetics, the
alchemists, and the astrologers, for which acknowledgment to Albertus
Magnus is given. They are represented to originate from quicksilver and
sulphur through heat, cold, dampness, and dryness, and are drawn out as
exhalations through the veins, each metal owing its origin to the
special influence of some planet; the Moon for silver, Saturn for lead,
etc. Two types of veins are mentioned, "standing" (_stehendergang_) and
flat (_flachgang_). Stringers are given the same characteristics as
veins, but divided into hanging, footwall, and other varieties.
Prominence is also given to the _geschick_ (selvage seams or joints?).
The importance of the bearing of the junctions of veins and stringers
on enrichment is elaborated upon, and veins of east-west strike lying
upon a south slope are considered the best. From the following notes it
will be seen that two or three other types of deposits besides veins are
referred to.
In describing silver veins, of peculiar interest is the mention of the
association of bismuth (_wismuth_), this being, we believe, the first
mention of that metal, galena (_glantz_), quartz (_quertz_), spar
(_spar_), hornstone (_hornstein_), ironstone and pyrites (_kies_), are
mentioned as gangue materials, "according to the mingling of the various
vapours." The term _glasertz_ is used, but it is difficult to say if
silver glance is meant; if so, it is the first mention of this mineral.
So far as we know, this is the first use of any of the terms in print.
Gold alluvial is described, part of the gold being assumed as generated
in the gravel. The best alluvial is in streams running east and west.
The association of gold with pyrites is mentioned, and the pyrites is
found "in some places as a complete stratum carried through
horizontally, and is called a _schwebender gang_." This sort of
occurrence is not considered very good "because the work of the heavens
can be but little completed on account of the unsuitability of the
position." Gold pyrites that comes in veins is better. Tin is mentioned
as found in alluvial, and also in veins, the latter being better or
worse, according to the amount of pyrites, although the latter can be
burned off. Tin-stone is found in masses, copper ore in schist and in
veins sometimes with pyrites. The ore from veins is better than schist.
Iron ore is found in masses, and sometimes in veins; the latter is the
best. "The iron veins with good hanging- and foot-walls are not to be
despised, especially if their strike be from east to west, their dip to
the south, the foot-wall and outcrop to the north, then if the ironstone
is followed down, the vein usually reveals gold or other valuable ore".
Lead ore is found in _schwebenden gang_ and _stehenden gang_.
Quicksilver, like other ore, is sometimes found in brown earth, and
sometimes, again, in caves where it has run out like water. The
classification of veins is the same as in _De Re Metallica_.[12] The
book generally, however, seems to have raised Agricola's opposition, for
the quotations are given in order to be demolished.
_Probierbuechlein._ Agricola refers in the Preface of _De Re Metallica_
to a work in German on assaying and refining metals, and it is our
belief that it was to some one of the little assay books published early
in the 16th century. There are several of them, seemingly revised
editions of each other; in the early ones no author's name appears,
although among the later editions various names appear on the title
page. An examination of these little books discloses the fact that their
main contents are identical, for they are really collections of recipes
after the order of cookery books, and intended rather to refresh the
memory of those already skilled than to instruct the novice. The books
appear to have grown by accretions from many sources, for a large number
of methods are given over and over again in the same book with slight
variations. We reproduce the title page of our earliest copy.
[Illustration 612 (Title page)]
The following is a list of these booklets so far as we have been able to
discover actual copies:--
_Date._ _Place._ _Publisher._ _Title (Short)._ _Author._
Unknown Unknown Unknown _Probierbuechlein_ Anon.
(Undated; but catalogue of British Museum suggests Augsburg, 1510.)
1524 Magdeburg _Probirbuechleyn Anon.
tzu Gotteslob_
1531 Augsburg Unknown _Probierbuch aller Anon.
Sachsischer Ertze_
1533 Frankfurt a. _Bergwerck und Anon.
Meyn Probierbuechlein_
1534 Augsburg Heinrich _Probirbuechlein_ Anon.
Steyner, 8vo.
1546 Augsburg Ditto, ditto _Probirbuechlein_ Anon.
1549 Augsburg Ditto, ditto _Probirbuechlein_ Anon.
1564 Augsburg Math. Francke, _Probirbuechlein_ Zach. Lochner
4to
1573 Augsburg 8vo. _Probirbuch_ Sam. Zimmermann
1574 Franckfurt _Probierbuechlein_ Anon.
a. Meyn
1578 Ditto _Probierbuechlein Fremde Cyriacus
und subtile Kunst_ Schreittmann
1580 Ditto _Probierbuechlein_ Anon.
1595 Ditto _Probierbuechlein darinn Modestin Fachs
gruendlicher Bericht_
1607 Dresden 4to _Metallische Probier C. C. Schindler
Kunst_
_Bericht vom Ursprung und
Erkenntniss der
Metallischen erze_
1669 Amsterdam _Probierbuechlein darinn Modestin Fachs
gruendlicher Bericht_
1678 Leipzig _Probierbuechlein darinn Modestin Fachs
gruendlicher Bericht_
1689 Leipzig _Probierbuechlein darinn Modestin Fachs
gruendlicher Bericht_
1695 Nuernberg 12mo. _Deutliche Vorstellung Anon.
der Probier Kunst_
1744 Luebeck 8vo. _Neu-eroeffnete Probier Anon.
Buch_
1755 Frankfurt 8vo. _Scheid-Kuenstler ... Anon.
and Leipzig alle Ertz und Metalle
... probiren_
1782 Rotenburg an 8vo. _Probierbuch aus K. A. Scheidt
der Fulde Erfahrung aufgesetzt_
As mentioned under the _Nuetzlich Bergbuechlein_, our copy of that work,
printed in 1533, contains only a portion of the _Probierbuechlein_.
Ferguson[13] mentions an edition of 1608, and the Freiberg School of
Mines Catalogue gives also Frankfort, 1608, and Nuernberg, 1706. The
British Museum copy of earliest date, like the title page reproduced,
contains no date. The title page woodcut, however, in the Museum copy is
referred from that above, possibly indicating an earlier date of the
Museum copy.
The booklets enumerated above vary a great deal in contents, the
successive prints representing a sort of growth by accretion. The first
portion of our earliest edition is devoted to weights, in which the
system of "lesser weights" (the principle of the "assay ton") is
explained. Following this are exhaustive lists of touch-needles of
various composition. Directions are given with regard to assay furnaces,
cupels, muffles, scorifiers, and crucibles, granulated and leaf metals,
for washing, roasting, and the preparation of assay charges. Various
reagents, including glass-gall, litharge, salt, iron filings, lead,
"alkali", talc, argol, saltpetre, sal-ammoniac, alum, vitriol, lime,
sulphur, antimony, _aqua fortis_, or _scheidwasser_, etc., are made use
of. Various assays are described and directions given for crucible,
scorification, and cupellation tests. The latter part of the book is
devoted to the refining and parting of precious metals. Instructions are
given for the separation of silver from iron, from lead, and from
antimony; of gold from silver with antimony (sulphide) and sulphur, or
with sulphur alone, with "_scheidwasser_," and by cementation with salt;
of gold from copper with sulphur and with lead. The amalgamation of gold
and silver is mentioned.
The book is diffuse and confused, and without arrangement or system,
yet a little consideration enables one of experience to understand most
statements. There are over 120 recipes, with, as said before, much
repetition; for instance, the parting of gold and silver by use of
sulphur is given eight times in different places. The final line of the
book is: "Take this in good part, dear reader, after it, please God,
there will be a better." In truth, however, there are books on assaying
four centuries younger that are worse. This is, without doubt, the first
written word on assaying, and it displays that art already full grown,
so far as concerns gold and silver, and to some extent copper and lead;
for if we eliminate the words dependent on the atomic theory from modern
works on dry assaying, there has been but very minor progress. The art
could not, however, have reached this advanced stage but by slow
accretion, and no doubt this collection of recipes had been handed from
father to son long before the 16th century. It is of wider interest that
these booklets represent the first milestone on the road to quantitative
analysis, and in this light they have been largely ignored by the
historians of chemistry. Internal evidence in Book VII. of _De Re
Metallica_, together with the reference in the Preface, leave little
doubt that Agricola was familiar with these booklets. His work, however,
is arranged more systematically, each operation stated more clearly,
with more detail and fresh items; and further, he gives methods of
determining copper and lead which are but minutely touched upon in the
_Probierbuechlein_, while the directions as to tin, bismuth, quicksilver,
and iron are entirely new.
Biringuccio (Vanuccio). We practically know nothing about this author.
From the preface to the first edition of his work it appears he was
styled a mathematician, but in the text[14] he certainly states that he
was most of his time engaged in metallurgical operations, and that in
pursuit of such knowledge he had visited Germany. The work was in
Italian, published at Venice in 1540, the title page of the first
edition as below:--
[Illustration 614 (Title page)]
It comprises ten chapters in 168 folios demi-octavo. Other Italian
editions of which we find some record are the second at Venice, 1552;
third, Venice, 1558; fourth, Venice, 1559; fifth, Bologna, 1678. A
French translation, by Jacques Vincent, was published in Paris, 1556,
and this translation was again published at Rouen in 1627. Of the ten
chapters the last six are almost wholly devoted to metal working and
founding, and it is more largely for this description of the methods of
making artillery, munitions of war and bells that the book is
celebrated. In any event, with the exception of a quotation which we
give on page 297 on silver amalgamation, there is little of interest on
our subject in the latter chapters. The first four chapters are
undoubtedly of importance in the history of metallurgical literature,
and represent the first work on smelting. The descriptions are, however,
very diffuse, difficult to follow, and lack arrangement and detail. But
like the _Probierbuechlein_, the fact that it was written prior to _De Re
Metallica_ demands attention for it which it would not otherwise
receive. The ores of gold, silver, copper, lead, tin, and iron are
described, but much interrupted with denunciations of the alchemists.
There is little of geological or mineralogical interest, he too holding
to a muddle of the classic elements astrology and alchemy. He has
nothing of consequence to say on mining, and dismisses concentration
with a few words. Upon assaying his work is not so useful as the
_Probierbuechlein_. On ore smelting he describes the reduction of iron
and lead ores and cupriferous silver or gold ores with lead. He gives
the barest description of a blast furnace, but adds an interesting
account of a _reverbero_ furnace. He describes liquation as consisting
of one operation; the subsequent treatment of the copper by refining
with an oxidizing blast, but does not mention poling; the cupellation of
argentiferous lead and the reduction of the litharge; the manufacture of
nitric acid and that method of parting gold and silver. He also gives
the method of parting with antimony and sulphur, and by cementation with
common salt. Among the side issues, he describes the method of making
brass with calamine; of making steel; of distilling quicksilver; of
melting out sulphur; of making vitriol and alum. He states that
_arsenico_ and _orpimento_ and _etrisagallio_ (realgar) are the same
substance, and are used to colour copper white.
In general, Biringuccio should be accredited with the first description
(as far as we are aware) of silver amalgamation, of a reverberatory
furnace, and of liquation, although the description is not complete.
Also he is, so far as we are aware, the first to mention cobalt blue
(_Zaffre_) and manganese, although he classed them as "half" metals. His
descriptions are far inferior to Agricola's; they do not compass
anything like the same range of metallurgy, and betray the lack of a
logical mind.
_Other works._ There are several works devoted to mineralogy, dating
from the fifteenth and early sixteenth centuries, which were, no doubt,
available to Agricola in the compilation of his _De Natura Fossilium_.
They are, however, practically all compiled from the jeweller's point of
view rather than from that of the miner. Among them we may mention the
poem on precious stones by Marbodaeus, an author who lived from 1035 to
1123, but which was first printed at Vienna in 1511; _Speculum Lapidum_,
a work on precious stones, by Camilli Leonardi, first printed in Venice
in 1502. A work of wider interest to mineralogists is that by Christoph
Entzelt (or Enzelius, Encelio, Encelius, as it is variously given),
entitled _De Re Metallica_, and first printed in 1551. The work is five
years later than _De Natura Fossilium_, but contains much new material
and was available to Agricola prior to his revised editions.
FOOTNOTES:
[1] See pages 44 and 46.
[2] Page 75.
[3] _Der Mineralog Georgius Agricola_, Zwickau, 1889, p. 46.
[4] Andreas Moeller, _Theatrum Freibergense Chronicum_, etc., Freiberg,
1653.
[5] Paris, 1897, Vol. I. p. 501.
[6] Cantor Lectures, London, April 1892.
[7] Hans von Dechen, _Das aelteste deutsche Bergwerksbuch_, reprint from
_Zts. fuer Bergrecht Bd. XXVI._, Bonn, 1885.
[8] Panzer's _Annalen_, Nuernberg, 1782, p. 422, gives an edition Worms
_bei_ Peter Schoefern, 1512.
[9] The Royal Library at Dresden and the State Library at Munich have
each a copy, dated 1518, Worms.
[10] Hans von Decken _op. cit._, p. 48-49.
[11] _Annales typographiae augustanae ab ejus origine, MCCCLXVI. usque
ad. an. M.D.XXX. Accedit dom Franc. Ant. Veith. Diatribe de origine ...
artis typographicae in urbe augusta vindelica edidit...._ Georgius G.
Zapf., Augsburg, 1778, X. p. 23.
[12] See p. 44.
[13] _Bibliotheca Chemica_.
[14] Book I., Chap. 2.
APPENDIX C.
WEIGHTS AND MEASURES.
As stated in the preface, the nomenclature to be adopted for weights and
measures has presented great difficulty. Agricola uses, throughout, the
Roman and the Romanized Greek scales, but in many cases he uses these
terms merely as lingual equivalents for the German quantities of his
day. Moreover the classic language sometimes failed him, whereupon he
coined new Latin terms adapted from the Roman scale, and thus added
further confusion. We can, perhaps, make the matter clearer by an
illustration of a case in weights. The Roman _centumpondium_, composed
of 100 _librae_, the old German _centner_ of 100 _pfundt_, and the
English hundredweight of 112 pounds can be called lingual equivalents.
The first weighs about 494,600 Troy grains, the second 721,900, and the
third 784,000. While the divisions of the _centumpondium_ and the
_centner_ are the same, the _libra_ is divided into 12 _unciae_ and the
_pfundt_ into 16 _untzen_, and in most places a summation of the units
given proves that the author had in mind the Roman ratios. However, on
p. 509 he makes the direct statement that the _centumpondium_ weighs 146
_librae_, which would be about the correct weight if the _centumpondium_
referred to was a _centner_. If we take an example such as "each
_centumpondium_ of lead contains one _uncia_ of silver", and reduce it
according to purely lingual equivalents, we should find that it runs
24.3 Troy ounces per short ton, on the basis of Roman values, and 18.25
ounces per short ton, on the basis of old German. If we were to
translate these into English lingual equivalents of one ounce per
hundredweight, then the value would be 17.9 ounces per short ton.
Several possibilities were open in translation: first, to calculate the
values accurately in the English units; second, to adopt the nearest
English lingual equivalent; third, to introduce the German scale of the
period; or, fourth, to leave the original Latin in the text. The first
would lead to an indefinite number of decimals and to constant doubt as
to whether the values, upon which calculations were to be based, were
Roman or German. The second, that is the substitution of lingual
equivalents, is objectionable, not only because it would indicate values
not meant by the author, but also because we should have, like Agricola,
to coin new terms to accommodate the lapses in the scales, or again to
use decimals. In the third case, that is in the use of the old German
scale, while it would be easier to adapt than the English, it would be
more unfamiliar to most readers than the Latin, and not so expressive in
print, and further, in some cases would present the same difficulties of
calculation as in using the English scale. Nor does the contemporary
German translation of _De Re Metallica_ prove of help, for its
translator adopted only lingual equivalents, and in consequence the
summation of his weights often gives incorrect results. From all these
possibilities we have chosen the fourth, that is simply to reproduce the
Latin terms for both weights and measures. We have introduced into the
footnotes such reductions to the English scale as we considered would
interest readers. We have, however, digressed from the rule in two
cases, in the adoption of "foot" for the Latin _pes_, and "fathom" for
_passus_. Apart from the fact that these were not cases where accuracy
is involved, Agricola himself explains (p. 77) that he means the German
values for these particular terms, which, fortunately, fairly closely
approximate to the English. Further, we have adopted the Anglicized
words "digit", "palm", and "cubit", instead of their Latin forms.
For purposes of reference, we reproduce the principal Roman and old
German scales, in so far as they are used by Agricola in this work, with
their values in English. All students of weights and measures will
realize that these values are but approximate, and that this is not an
occasion to enter upon a discussion of the variations in different
periods or by different authorities. Agricola himself is the author of
one of the standard works on Ancient Weights and Measures (see Appendix
A), and further gives fairly complete information on contemporary scales
of weight and fineness for precious metals in Book VII. p. 262 etc., to
which we refer readers.
ROMAN SCALES OF WEIGHTS.
Troy Grains.
1 _Siliqua_ = 2.87
6 _Siliquae_ = 1 _Scripulum_ 17.2
4 _Scripula_ = 1 _Sextula_ 68.7
6 _Sextulae_ = 1 _Uncia_ 412.2
12 _Unciae_ = 1 _Libra_ 4946.4
100 _Librae_ = 1 _Centumpondium_ 494640.0
Also
1 _Scripulum_ = 17.2
3 _Scripula_ = 1 _Drachma_ 51.5
2 _Drachmae_ = 1 _Sicilicus_ 103.0
4 _Sicilici_ = 1 _Uncia_ 412.2
8 _Unciae_ = 1 _Bes_ 3297.6
SCALE OF FINENESS
(AGRICOLA'S ADAPTATION).
4 _Siliquae_ = 1 Unit of _Siliquae_
3 _Units of Siliquae_ = 1 _Semi-sextula_
4 _Semi-sextulae_ = 1 _Duella_
24 _Duellae_ = 1 _Bes_
OLD GERMAN SCALE OF WEIGHTS.
Troy Grains.
1 _Pfennig_ = 14.1
4 _Pfennige_ = 1 _Quintlein_ 56.4
4 _Quintlein_ = 1 _Loth_ 225.6
2 _Loth_ = 1 _Untzen_ 451.2
8 _Untzen_ = 1 _Mark_ 3609.6
2 _Mark_ = 1 _Pfundt_ 7219.2
100 _Pfundt_ = 1 _Centner_ 721920.0
SCALE OF FINENESS.
3 _Grenlin_ = 1 _Gran_
4 _Gran_ = 1 _Krat_
24 _Krat_ = 1 _Mark_
ROMAN LONG MEASURE.
Inches.
1 _Digitus_ = .726
4 _Digiti_ = 1 _Palmus_ 2.90
4 _Palmi_ = 1 _Pes_ 11.61
1-1/2 _Pedes_ = 1 _Cubitus_ 17.41
5 _Pedes_ = 1 _Passus_ 58.1
Also
1 Roman _Uncia_ = .97
12 _Unciae_ = Pes 11.61
GREEK LONG MEASURE.
Inches.
1 _Dactylos_ = .758
4 _Dactyloi_ = 1 _Palaiste_ 3.03
4 _Palaistai_ = 1 _Pous_ 12.135
1-1/2 _Pous_ = 1 _Pechus_ 18.20
6 _Pous_ = 1 _Orguia_ 72.81
OLD GERMAN LONG MEASURE.
Inches.
1 _Querfinger_ = .703
16 _Querfinger_ = 1 _Werckschuh_ 11.247
2 _Werckschuh_ = 1 _Elle_ 22.494
3 _Elle_ = 1 _Lachter_ 67.518
Also
1 _Zoll_ = .85
12 _Zoll_ = 1 _Werkschuh_
ROMAN LIQUID MEASURE.
Cubic inches. Pints.
1 _Quartarius_ = 8.6 .247
4 _Quartarii_ = 1 _Sextarius_ 31.4 .991
6 _Sextarii_ = 1 _Congius_ 206.4 5.947
16 _Sextarii_ = 1 _Modius_ 550.4 15.867
8 _Congii_ = 1 _Amphora_ 1650.0 47.577
(Agricola nowhere uses the Saxon liquid measures, nor do they
fall into units comparable with the Roman).
GENERAL INDEX.
NOTE.--The numbers in heavy type refer to the Text; those in plain type
to the Footnotes, Appendices, etc.
Abandonment of Mines, =217=
Abertham.
Mines at, =74=; =92=; 74
Abolite, 113
_Abstrich_, 465; 492
Abydos.
Gold mines of, =26=; 27
Lead figure from, 390
_Abzug_, 464; 465; 475
_Achates_ (_see_ Agate).
Accidents To Miners, =214-218=
Accounts (Mining), =96-98=
Adit, 101
_Aeris flos_ (_see_ Copper Flowers).
_Aeris squama_ (_see_ Copper Scales).
_Aes caldarium_, 109
_Aes luteum_, 109
_Aes nigrum_, 109
_Aes purum fossile_ (_see_ Native Copper).
_Aes rude plumbei coloris_ (_see_ Copper Glance).
_Aes ustum_ (_see_ Roasted Copper).
_Aetites_, 2
Africa.
Iron, 420
Tin, 412
Agate, 114
Agriculture.
Mining compared with, =5=
Ailments of Miners (_see_ Maladies of Miners).
Air Currents in Mines, =121=; =200=
Alabaster, 114
Alchemists, XXVII-XXX; 44; 608
Agricola's opinion of, XII; =XXVII.=
Amalgamation, 297
Assaying, =248=; 219
Discovery of acids, 439; 460
Distillation, 441
Aljustrel Tablet, 83-84
Alkali, 558
Alloys, Assaying of, =247-252=
Alluvial Mining, =321-348=; 330-332
Alston Moor, 84
Altenberg, =XXXI=; VI.
Collapse of mine, =216=
Miners poisoned, =214=
Tin working appliances, =290=; =304=; =318=
Alum, =564-568=; 564-570
A solidified juice, 1
Elizabethan Charter, 283
In roasted pyrites, =350=
In _Sal artificiosus_, =463=
Latin and German terms, 220; 221
Papal monopoly, 570
Use in making nitric acid, =439=; 460
Amalgam.
Parting the gold from, =298=; 297
Amalgamation, 297
Of gilt objects, =461=
Mills, =295-299=
Amber, =34=; 35
Amethyst, 114
_Amiantus_ (_see_ Asbestos).
Ampulla, =445-447=; 220
Annaberg, VI; =XXXI=; =42=; =75=; 75
Profits, =92=
Ant, venomous, =216=
Antimony, 220; 428; 354
Minerals, 110
Smelting of, =400=; =428=
Use as type-metal, 2; 429
Antimony Sulphide, 220; 428; 451
Parting gold and silver with, =451=; 451; 461
Parting gold from copper, =463=
Parting silver and iron, =544=
Antwerp, Scale of Weights, =263=
Apex Law, 81; 83-86
_Aqua regia_, 439; 441; 354
_Aqua valens_ (_see also_ Nitric Acid), =439-443=; 439; 220
Clarification with silver, =443=; 443
Cleansing gold-dust with, =396=
Parting precious metals with, =443-447=
_Arbores dissectae_ (Lagging), 101
Archimedes, Screw of, 149
Architecture.
Knowledge necessary for miners, =4=
_Area fodinarum_ (_see_ Meer).
Argentiferous Copper Ores, Smelting of, =404-407=
Argentite, 109
_Argentum purum in venis_ (_see_ Native Silver).
_Argentum rude plumbei coloris_ (_see_ Silver Glance).
_Argentum rude rubrum translucidum_ (_see_ Ruby Silver).
Argol, 234; 220
As a flux, =234=; =238=; =243=
Use in melting silver nitrate, =447=
Use in smelting gold dust, =396-398=
Argonauts, 330
Arithmetical Science.
Knowledge necessary for miners, =4=
Armenia, Stone of, 115
Arsenic (_see also_ Orpiment _and_ Realgar), 111; 214
_Arsenicum_, 111
Arsenopyrite, 111
Asbestos, =440=; 440; 114
Ash-coloured Copper, =539-540=; 540; 523-524; 492
From liquation, =529-530=
Ashes which Wool Dyers use (_see also_ Potash), 233; 559; 220
Use in assaying, =236-238=
Ash of Lead, =237-238=; 237; 220
Ash of Musk Ivy (_see also_ Potash and _Nitrum_), =236-238=; 220
Asphalt, 581
_Asphaltites_ (_see_ Dead Sea).
Assay Balances (_see_ Balances).
Assay Fluxes (_see_ Fluxes).
Assay Furnaces, =224-228=; 220
Crucible, =226-227=
Muffle, =224-228=; =239=
Assaying (_see also_ _Probierbuechlein_), =219=; 219; 220; 354
Amalgamation, =243=
Bismuth, =247=
Copper, =244=
Cupellation, =240=
Gold and silver alloys, =248=
Gold ore, =242-244=
Iron ore, =247=
Lead, =245-246=
Silver, =242-245=
Silver and copper alloys, =249-250=
Tin, =246=
Tin and silver alloys, =251=
Assay Muffles (_see_ Muffles).
Assay Ton, =261=; 242
Assyrian Copper, 402
Asthma, =214=
Astronomy.
Knowledge necessary for miners, =4=
Atarnea.
Mines near, =26=; 27
Athens.
Mining law, 83
Sea power and mines, 27
Silver mines (_see_ Mt. Laurion, Mines of).
_Atramentum Sutorium_ (_see also_ Vitriol), 572; 110
_Atramentum Sutorium candidum_, 113
_Atramentum Sutorium rubrum_, =274=; 274
_Aurichalcum_, 409; 404
_Auripigmentum_ (_see_ Orpiment).
Azure, 1; 109; 220
An indication of copper, =116=
An indication of gold, =117=
Colour of flame, =235=
Azurite 109; 220; 402
Babel, Tower of, 582
Babylonia.
Bitumen in, 582
Use of lead, 391
Babytace.
Gold buried by inhabitants, =9=; =15=
Baebelo, =42=; 42
Balances, =224=; =264-265=
Barite, 115
Barmaster, of High Peak, 77
Bars, for Furnace Work, =382=
Baskets, for Hoisting, =153=
Batea, =156=
Beer, =230=; 220
Bell, to call Workmen, =100=
Bellows, =362-373=; =419=
Ancient use of, 354; 355; 362
Assay furnace, =226=; =245=
Mine ventilation with, =207-210=
Beni Hassen, Inscriptions at, 586
_Berg-geel_, 111
Bergmeister, =33=; =81=; =95=; =77=; 77; 78
Deals with forfeited shares, =92-93=
Jurors, =96=
Bergmeister's Clerk, =95=; 78
_Bergzinober_ (_see_ Quicksilver).
Bermius (Bermium), Mt. (_see_ Mt. Bermius).
Bismuth, =433=; 354; 220
Assaying ores of, =247=
Indication of silver, =116=
Minerals, 2; 111
Smelting of, =433-437=; =400=
The "roof of silver," =117=; 433
_Zaffre_, 112
Bitumen.
Ancient knowledge of, 220; 581-582; 354
Colour of fumes, =235=
Dead Sea, =33=
Distillation, =581=
From springs, =582=
Harmful to metals, =273=
Roasting from ore, =273=; =276=; =351=
Solidified juice, =1=
_Bituminosa cadmia_ (_see_ _Cadmia bituminosa_).
Blast, Regulation of, =380=; =386=
Blasting, 119
Blende, 113
Bleyberg, 239
Bloodstone, 111; 2
Bloom, 420
_Bluetstein_ (_see_ Ironstone).
Bohemia.
Antimony sulphide, 428
Pestilential vapours, =216=
Sifting ore in, =293=
Smelting, =384=
Bone-ash, =230=; 466
Borax, 560; 221; 110
Method of manufacture, =560=
Use in gold smelting, =444=; =457=; =464=
Use in assaying, =245=; =246=
Bornite, 109
Boundary Stones, =87=; 129
Boundaries, =77=; =147=
Bowls for Alluvial Washing, =322=; =324=; =334=; =336=
Brass, 410; 354; 2
Ancient methods of making, 404-405; 112
Breaking Ore, =117-119=
Brick Dust.
Used in cementation, =454=; 454
Used in making nitric acid, =440=
Brine (_see also_ Salt).
Evaporation of, =547-548=
Britain.
Lead-silver smelting, 392
Miners mentioned by Pliny, 83
Tin trade, 411-413
British Museum.
Egyptian gold-mining, 399
Egyptian lead, 390
Egyptian steel, 402
Bromyrite, 109
Bronze.
Historical notes, 411; 402; 354
Bronze Age, 355; =402=; 411
Bryle (Outcrop), 101
Buckets, for Hoisting Ore, =153-154=; =157=
Buddle, 281; 282; 267
Divided, =302-303=
Simple, =300-302=; =312-315=
Bullion, Pouring into Bars, =382=
Burning Ore, =231=; =273=; 267
Burnt Alum, =233=; 565; 221
_Cadmia_ (_see also_ Zinc, _Pompholyx_, _and_ Cobalt), =542=; 542;
112-113
Ancient ore of brass, 410
From dust chambers, =394=
From liquation, =539=; 542
From roasting matte, =349=
Poisonous to miners, =214=; 214
Roasting, =276=
Smelting for gold and silver, =410=
_Cadmia bituminosa_, =276=; 273; 113
_Cadmia fornacis_ (_see_ Furnace Accretions).
_Cadmia fossilis_ (_see_ Calamine _and_ Blende).
_Cadmia metallica_ (_see also_ Cobalt), =403=; 113
_Caeruleum_ (_see_ Azure).
Cakes of Melted Pyrites, 379; 222
A flux, =234=
Roasting of, =349-351=
Use in smelting, =379=
Calaem (_see also_ Zinc), =409=
Calamine, 112; 113; 409; 410
Calcite, 114
Calcspar, =116=; 114
_Caldarium_ Copper, =512=; =542=; 404; 511
Caldrons, for Evaporating Salts, =548=
_Calmei_ (_see_ Calamine).
Cameros.
Zinc found at, 409
Camphor, =238=; 238; 221
Cam-shaft, =282-283=; 267
_Canales_ (Ore Channels), 43; 46; 47
Ore shoots in, =117=
Cannon, =11=
Cardinal Points, =57=; =58=
Carnelian, 114
_Carneol_ (_see_ Carnelian).
_Carni_, 390
Cupellation, =483=
Smelting of lead ores, =390=
Carpathian Mountains.
Liquation practice in, =540=; =544=
Sieves, =289=
Stamp-milling, =319=
Carthage.
Mines in Spain, =27=
Castulo (Cazlona), 42
Cementation (_see also_ Parting Gold from Silver), =453-457=; 453; 458
_Centumpondium_, 616; 242; 509
Scale of weights, =260-261=
Cerargurite, 109
_Cerussa_ (_see_ White-lead).
Cerussite, 110
Chain Pumps, =171-175=
Chalcanthite, 110
_Chalcanthum_ (_see also_ Vitriol), 109; 572
Chalcedony, 114
_Chalcitis_, 573; 109
Indication of copper, =116=
Chalcocite, 109; 402
Chalcopyrite, 109
Chaldean Antimony, 429
Chemistry.
Origin, XXVII; 220
Chemnitz.
Agricola appointed city physician, VII.
Agricola elected burgomaster, VIII; IX.
Quarrel over Agricola's burial, XI.
China, Grand Canal of, 129
Chinese.
Early copper smelting, 402
Early iron, 421
Early silver metallurgy, 391
Early zinc smelting, 409