Musaeum metallicum

A as are metals. For hard things are understood in two ways: those which neither yield easily nor break easily; of this condition are those which can be dilated malleable; hence Bitumen is extended, but does not resist, while Crystal and Antimony resist but are not dilated, as they break easily when struck. Things that liquefy and, while they acquire their original form, are not hard, are called Juices; those which do not liquefy and are hard are called Stones; finally, those which are soft and pass easily into very small parts are termed Earths. Hence, four simple differences of fossils are to be gathered: namely, Metal, Earth, Concrete Juice, and Stone; for a similar order is to be preserved in this history.

Composite differences of fossils.

Furthermore, besides these four simple differences, other composite ones arise because of the communion of the generation of fossils; such as: juice-stone, juice-earth, juice-metal, metal-stone, metal-earth, and earth-stone, juice-earth-stone, juice-earth-metal, juice-stone-metal, earth-stone-metal, and finally juice-stone-earth-metal.

B Thus far we have treated the differences of fossils; now the species of metals must be examined. Some opine that some species of metals have perished, and perhaps others unknown to us today will be observed by posterity; concerning which matter, authors do not yet agree on the number of metals. The Chemists declare that the species of metals are not perfect, because they believe that imperfections are to be reduced to more perfect ones. Nevertheless, while they themselves concede that many species are contained under the genus of metal, the genus of metals will always have to be distributed into its species no differently than the genus of stone or some other genus into its own proper species. Therefore, seven differences are enumerated by many: namely, Gold, Silver, Copper, Iron, Electrum, Tin, and Lead.

In the book On the Sacred Philosophy, ch. 49.

Valesius establishes only five species, namely Gold, Silver, Copper, Iron, and Lead, because he reduces Tin to Lead, Electrum to a mixture of Gold and Silver, Brass aurichalcum to dyed copper, and Steel to Iron. Others among metals recount Gold, Silver, white Copper, Iron, Steel, fossil Brass, white Lead tin, black Lead, and ash-colored Lead.

Book 1, On Alchemy, ch. 31.

Geber demonstrates only six metals, namely Gold, Silver, Copper or Brass, Lead, Tin, and Iron; since for him, there are so many mineral fossil bodies, and they are dilatable under the hammer to every dimension. Among so many and such great opinions about the number of metals, only two seem to us more probable; one of which enumerates seven differences: namely Gold, Silver, Copper, Iron, Lead, Tin, and Quicksilver; the other indeed proves only six species, for it removes Tin as that which is easily reduced to Lead; and although Quicksilver does not seem to enjoy the conditions of other metals, since it does not suffer liquefaction and dilation in the sense of being malleable when cold;

Seven species of metals.

yet in some way, by virtue and power, it is named a metal; for thus we will not depart from the opinion of the Chemists, who themselves also have seven species of metals as is read in the Hadrian Testament, where the Philosopher's Stone is introduced speaking thus:

--- mine does bow down to adore
The scepter of the sevenfold order of the synod of metals.

D Wherefore, Astrologers, together with the Chemists, also commend seven differences of metals according to the number of the planets; while they assign Gold to the Sun, Silver to the Moon, Lead to Saturn, Tin to Jupiter, Iron to Mars, Copper to Venus, and Quicksilver to Mercury; indeed, they mostly designate the metals themselves by the names of the planets. Wherefore, if the common opinion of authors does not segregate Quicksilver from metals, we too will add Stibium, or Antimony, to this assembly, using this division. Metals are either hard or liquid; to the liquid, Quicksilver is reduced; the hard are either pure, like gold and silver, or impure, and these are still constituted in a twofold distinction: they are either harder, like Copper and Iron, or softer, like Lead, Tin, and Stibium, which can be reduced to Lead by a brief artifice. The simple metals have already been enumerated; the mixed ones remain to be mentioned.

What mixed metals are.

For nature in the bowels of the earth mixes together either two metals, or three, or four; two in many ways, for it mixes silver with gold, or gold with silver, or gold with copper, or silver, or silver with one of the kinds of lead, or copper, or iron, or it mixes with iron or such things.