The Prosperity of Germany, Part Two

Concerning Orpiment.

This mineral, not differing much in its nature from arsenic, does not come from foreign veins but is accustomed to enjoy its own veins and passages, in which it is generated. It is an immature mineral, usually full of gold, filled with most present poison, highly fleeting and volatile, and for that reason excluded from all use, except that which painters alone are accustomed to use. By nitre, it is deprived of its fleeting nature and rendered fixed; it clothes copper in a white color and makes it friable and brittle, which is also characteristic of arsenic. By sublimation, it loses its yellowness and is changed into transparent rubies, which serve for ornamentation.

Concerning Cobalt.

Cobalt, leaving all other poisonous minerals far behind with its poison, is immature silver, from which, however, silver is extorted by fusion, though more from one than another. It is also found that which is entirely devoid of silver. By the addition of fusible sand and potashes, it is changed into blue Schmalta smalt/cobalt glass or glass; that which contains silver must first be despoiled of it. It is also rendered constant by saltpeter so that, remaining in the fire, it may yield its silver, as will be said later.

Concerning Silver Marcasite or Bismuth.

Silver Marcasite, or Bisemuthum bismuth or Wismuthum bismuth, is not an unknown mineral, usually associated with silver mines, like cobalt, though less