Description of the Most Principal Mineral Ores

Therefore I, as one who
[has] dealt with refining, smelting, separating, and
[has] concerned myself for the sake of pleasure and love
[for the] Metallic Arts (
[as I have] for several years now [not]
[been] idle, also [have] something useful
and under Your Roman Imperial Majesty’s most
gracious protection, brought the same extensively
and for those who maintain themselves thereby,
[have] brought to paper, namely, [how to process]
metals, and what belongs thereto, one [should know]
its true natural properties,
most useful in many ways, and [how to]
prepare, assay in a small fire, [how to]
[purify], partly also in large-scale works
[to] smelt, make useful, and use, [with]
explanation and depiction of all instruments,
tools, crucibles, glasses, and other appurtenances, [since]
that in Your Majesty’s etc. kingdoms, principalities,
[lands] and territories, many excellent fine mines, of
various metallic ores lie, [are] found and worked
[and] which, through the means of Divine help and diligent
[efforts], upon thorough teaching, [are] further stimulated and for the advancement
[and] of my trades, and improvement of Your Roman Imperial Majesty’s
chamber assets, might come to increase, and for a long time
be maintained.

Now the old Philosophi philosophers and naturalists, when they
[have] described metals or metallic ores, [they] have subjected each
of them to a celestial planet, and
assigned [them], through whose influence such metal has its properties and
effect, and is governed, namely: to gold the Sun,
to silver the Moon, to quicksilver Mercury,
to copper Venus, to iron Mars, to tin Jupiter,
and to lead Saturn, and [they have done] this out of special
natural secrets and considerations that in their books
are contained. And although [there are] besides this more...