PROSPERITY

OF GERMANY

PART TWO.

Concerning the difference and name of minerals.

What a mineral is, and why fossils of every kind—and bodies lying hidden in metallic veins, before they have been smelted by the benefit of fire into tenacious and malleable metals—are accustomed to be given that same name, I do not consider it worth the labor to explain in this place through laborious commentary, since this has already been done long ago by others and contributes little to the matter at hand. For my purpose looks toward this end, and this is the goal I have proposed for myself: that I may teach those studious in metallic affairs the mode and reason for treating those minerals that are perishing through neglect and waste, so that they may render the laborious investigators participants in the treasures entrusted to them, with no small profit. But before I gird myself for this endeavor, I shall enumerate the manifold species of minerals, and having enumerated them, I shall show the art by whose aid, if the fire is correctly managed by the artist, they may turn into better and purer bodies and serve the incredible utilities and comforts of men.
To minerals are numbered: antimonium antimony, or Stibium antimony/stibnite; Auripigmentum orpiment; white Arsenicum arsenic, yellow (which some equate with orpiment), and red (which others call Sandaraca realgar); native Cadmia calamine/zinc ore, or Coboltum cobalt; Lapis Calaminaris calamine stone and Zinckum zinc; Bisemuthum bismuth; silver Marcasita marcasite/pyrites; gold marcasite; various kinds of Pyrites firestone; as also Calchantum copper vitriol, or Vitriolum vitriol, which, being manifold and varied among minerals, also claims a place for itself.