Paracelsus, in that Chapter he writ of Vitriol, saith, By help of this every Iron may be changed into the best Copper but which way, something more excellent, viz. Iron, may be changed into Gold, Elias the Artist (which we call the Salt of Art) when he comes, will demonstrate, That the occult virtues contained in Vitriol may be more known to every man, what this Author left in Writing, touching Vitriol, I thought good here to insert.
Therefore, since I in this Treatise denominate my Salt of Art, Elias the Artist long since predicted, some one may properly say, My Glauber, you proclaim your Sal Mirabile to be Elias the Artist; but in Paracelsus’s Writings we read, That when he comes, he will teach the way of transmuting Iron into Gold; now shew us which way your Sal Mirabile can do this. I answer, That here is nothing of impossibility, I have obscurely in this and other places shewed; but which way the Operation is to be instituted, I have not declared: because I my self have not as yet obtained a perfect understanding of the same. Nevertheless, that it is possible we have often observed; for Iron hath access to Gold, and so augments it even as it augments Copper.
For when Copper is dissolved in a certain salt, and the solution is poured upon thin Iron Plates, not only the Copper and Iron settle to the bottom, and so becomes Copper again, but also whilst the coction is performing, a great quantity of the Iron hath access to the Copper, so as you take out more Copper than you put in. I bring for a true Testimony of this Experiment, the Saying of that most true Writer, Lazarus Ercker, in his Probatory Book, where he saith, He had often observed, that Iron Instruments in length of time were changed into Copper, without any depravation of their Figure. Yet it is credible, that this Mutation is from Spirits, not from Bodies, because Spirits are endowed with a greater penetrative power.
Since the Writings of this man are in the hands of few, I thought good here to insert what he hath left written, touching the Transmutation of Iron into Copper.
Whether Copper may be made of Iron.
Courteous Reader,
I did for a long time persist in denying, That Iron in Coppery Waters, such as are made of Vitriol, green Tartar, and the like, could be precipitated into Copper; nor could I in any wise believe, that any encrease could come to Copper, from Iron; but daily Experience hath taught the contrary, viz. That in Mines and Mountains of Vitriol, were left Iron Instruments, which after long time were changed wholly into Copper. For although precipitation of Copper is made, by the benefit of Iron, yet the same quantity of that, as is put in, is not taken out again. Notwithstanding this, here it is to be observ’d, that together with the Copper, which is so precipitated, Silver also (if any be) settles to the bottom. Therefore they seem to do well, who for Precipitation of Silver, besides Copper cast also into the Aqua-fortis Plates of Iron: And so in one and the same Operation, Silver and Copper settle to the bottom, and we save all, which the separatory Water did contain.
As it is manifest, Copper may be made of Iron, so also that the same may be changed into Gold, is most easily demonstrated. That it is possible, I have often observed, although without profit, because the true way of Operating was then unknown to me.
Iron is not changed into Copper in every solution, but in that which is in certain Determinate Salts. For, if you dissolve ℥ ss. of Copper in Aqua-fortis, and to repress the sharpness of the Aqua-fortis add a little common Water, cast in Plates of Iron, or duly institute coction; ℥ ss. of Copper will indeed be precipitated by the Iron, but the Iron not changed into Copper. The certain reason of this, we believe, is, because no Salt having power of Graduation, was added to the Aqua-fortis. Of Gold, the reason is the same, if it be dissolved in Aqua-regis; for the Gold is here found to be precipitated alone, and the Iron not changed into Gold, because of the defect of salt convenient for gradation.