PREFACE.

...[so that man] might make use of and employ [them]; therefore, the ancient, wise, and experienced men and naturalists, who in former times were called philosophers original: "Philosophos." In Ercker's time, this referred to "natural philosophers," the precursors to modern scientists, who studied the physical world., regardless of the fact that they did not possess the true light and knowledge of God and His truth, diligently investigated such mysteries of the Almighty and revealed the nature and property of the same to posterity in writings, and thereby left no small amount of praise behind them. Their books, having been written in foreign languages primarily Latin and Greek, were subsequently translated, improved, and in the present time published by many learned men—along with the discovery of many new and useful things—for the benefit of all. To all of whom I, and every lover of natural art, should rightly give thanks for such diligence and effort.

And although among such writers there have been, and still are, several who have published all kinds of books regarding metals, ores original: "Erzten", and minerals—especially regarding their properties, nature, and distinctions—yet among them few are found who have written anything fundamental in Latin or German about how metals and their associated parts could be extracted from the ore, assayed original: "probiren," the process of testing an ore sample to determine its metal content., smelted original: "schmelzen", and processed for use on a proper foundation, in the most convenient and easiest way.

Yet this is the most essential thing to know, especially in mining original: "Berckwerck" and in those places where one deals with and has business in ores and metallic arts. Furthermore, the aforementioned writers have looked only to theory original: "Theorican," here used dismissively to mean book-learning without practice and have not themselves experienced, practiced, or used these things in actual work; instead, they have compiled their faulty works from those whom they trusted too much, based on mere reports. From this, a beginning miner original: "Berckman" or those who work with fire referring to smelters and assayers—and who are not otherwise informed about these matters—cannot only derive or learn nothing fruitful, but are much more likely to be led astray by them.