Subterranean Physics

Entrance or Preface.

...finally, I have rolled various questions into one mass, and have spoken either openly or guardedly, or with certainty or doubt, about this or that subject. For the reader will find all such things as they have been placed, so that he can distinguish with easy effort Theory from practice, certainties from doubts, questions from conclusions, and finally whatever the nature of a demonstrative discourse involves for the weaving together of the series. What I did not wish to say openly, I have veiled in silence; in this, I have followed not so much the wretched habit of modern Chemists original: "Chymicorum"; referring here to alchemists who used coded language to hide their secrets as the advice of Gellius Aulus Gellius, a 2nd-century Roman author known for his miscellany 'Attic Nights', namely: He who wishes to speak so that no one understands does a great thing if he remains silent. To explain the reason for my undertaking in few words: I wished to leave not so much final decisions as materials for disputing about the generation of subterranean things—a matter otherwise dark enough in itself—to Students of Physics. Yet the stronger reason was to prepare for Chemists a guide manuductionem|literally a "leading by the hand"; a foundational primer or handbook to the knowledge of subterranean things, which they might use at their pleasure if they have need of a guide. For I write for those willing to follow, not for others who, relying on their own stubborn brain, would rather strike against the stone than accept a warning about the stone from others. Therefore, this discourse is made here for the Friends of Chemistry original: "Philo-Chymicis", who should preliminarily, as an introduction to the knowledge of Subterranean Physics, consider three things: N. 7. namely the dignity, the necessity, and the obscurity of this Study. As for the dignity, they will easily value it highly if they investigate those great mysteries, both Theological and Physical, which lie hidden in the number three; in Physical matters, we shall find a triad original: "trinarium" not to be despised in the three kingdoms of Nature. For all bodies that possess generation, vegetation, or growth are distinguished into three classes; for they are either N. 8. animals, vegetables, or minerals, and nature carries as many fertile wombs—namely, three great workshops original: "officinas"—of which the first serves for conceiving animals, the second for vegetables, and the third for fossils fossilibus|In the 17th century, "fossil" referred to anything dug out of the earth, including minerals, ores, and gemstones, not just prehistoric remains. Indeed, any of these is so full of miracles and effective in such stupendous operations that an entire human lifetime would not suffice for even one to be sufficiently explained and considered. For what is more incomprehensible than that in the dark womb of a mother, from such base and corruptible substance, in so simple and common a manner, within a few months, a human is generated, equipped with so many veins, nerves, membranes, valves, vessels, and organs? Such a structure no one, even among the most skilled artisans, could perfectly imitate without error in the path of even a single vein. If the workshop of Vegetables does not excel the former, it follows very closely. For what is more marvelous than that in one night, by one rain, in one earth, so many various and diverse vegetables are nourished? That so many fruits, differing in color, odor, taste, and form, are produced in such abundance and diversity, that I believe no mortal has ever existed who has either fully seen or perfectly known this abundance and diversity of plants? What shall I say of the workshop of Subterranean things? It yields not at all to the previous ones in terms of wonder. Reasoning will fail everyone if we consider that in the most hidden mountains so many diverse species of fossils are born, the most compact stones are penetrated by vapors original: "fumis"; literally "smokes," referring to the theory that mineral ores were formed by metallic exhalations rising through the earth, and the deepest subterranean caves are filled with metal-bearing principles, and all these things happen with no external assistance. Who [can explain the nature] of Crystal, or of Diamond...