Musaeum metallicum

A

Book 1 of Alchemy, ch. 31.

Furthermore, nature has instilled weight in metals, but gold is heavier than the rest; and Geber writes that this arises because it has a dense substance, a very strong composition, and a compaction of material that accompanies the perfect mixture of earth with water. Hence it happens that any heavy weights float on liquefied metals. Indeed, they do not wet the liquefied metal, and the reason is that the apprehended and coagulated spirit retains the vapor uniformly coupled to itself before it is turned into water; therefore it does not adhere to what touches it, nor can it wet it. Hence it arises that in open places, as the spirit vanishes, the vapors left behind by the heat are dissolved into water.
Book 3 of Meteorology, ch. 6.

For this reason, as Aristotle noted, all metals are not burned, since their exhalation is incombustible and akin to that from which salts are generated. But it must be noted that although metals form the greatest familiarity with each other, a perfect metal, according to Geber, cannot heal an imperfect one.
Book 1 of Alchemy, ch. 31.

For if lead is melted with gold, the latter remains while the former vanishes and is consumed. Moreover, all metals are solid, except for quicksilver, which is also found liquid in the bowels of the earth; for it comes forth from a breath that abounds in watery humidity. Likewise, all metals are liquefied by a vehement fire, but those that participate more in earthy concretion do so with greater difficulty, such as iron, which does not soften except under the vehement ardor of flames.
Which metals are better dilated.

Similarly, all metals are drawn out and dilated when struck with a hammer, but especially those that are both well-compacted and soft. For this reason, gold is drawn into the thinnest leaves and wires before other metals. Next is silver, then properly purified bronze, and finally iron, tin, and lead.

Furthermore, nature has instilled this in metals: that while they are being purified, they emit many drosses, except for gold, which, due to its purity, exudes little or no dross. Likewise, when placed in a damp place or suspended over the vapors of acrid things, such as vinegar, they contract a sort of filth, namely rust, which surrounds the entire material of the metal, but some of these are pressed by this affection more and others less. Only the purest gold is immune from this stain, unless it has been mixed with silver; for then, just as silver itself does in the long course of time, they acquire a rust of a most pleasant sky-blue color, which painters later prefer to ultramarine blue.
Where metals do not contract rust.

But we cannot be held in moderate admiration that the place of birth removes this affection from metals; for indeed, in the island of Elba in the Tuscan Sea, as Pliny reports, metals dug from the bowels of the earth contract no rust there, but when taken elsewhere are vexed by significant rust.
Book 3 of Mineralogy, Trac. 2, ch. 6.

Finally, it is inherent in metals by nature that they are mixed in the caverns of the earth, so that sometimes a vein is observed, one part of which yields gold, the other silver, together with stony lime; Albertus testifies that he saw this with his own eyes and understood it from miners.

SYMPATHY AND ANTIPATHY.

D

Pyrimachus stone.

METALS AGREE with various stones, and especially with that species of flint which Aristotle calls pyrimachus fire-fighting/fire-striking stone. This is not unknown to men engaged in the fusion of metals, who sprinkle this type of stone over liquefied metals so that the metals cannot fly off into the air. Indeed, they easily agree with that kind of pyrite marked with various colors; for this reason, workers add this kind of pyrite to metals in place of lead, so that in the smelting, the metals may become more liquid. Furthermore, all metals have received quicksilver into friendship, because it is most willingly coupled with all of them; consequently, they add to their familiarity that species of hematite which is pregnant with quicksilver; for which reason this stone is said to draw metals to itself.
Which parts of the human body metals relate to.

Moreover, according to the mind of the Astrologers, metals not only follow the friendship of the planets, but also join to themselves certain principal parts of the human body in familiarity. For they write that the heart is benignly regarded by gold, the brain by silver, the kidneys by bronze, the gallbladder by iron, the spleen by lead, the lungs by quicksilver, and the liver by tin. Indeed, sympathy and antipathy are observed even among the metals themselves; for lead is loved by gold and silver, for these are easily mixed while being melted together; conversely, lead abhors it, and likewise tin dissents from gold and silver.