The works of the highly experienced and famous chymist, John Rudolph Glauber

by Johann Rudolf Glauber

But if a solution of Copper or Gold be made in spirit of salt, and Iron cast into that solution, then not only the Copper or Gold settles to the bottom with the Iron, but also in this solution part of the Iron passeth into Copper or Gold, because the spirit of salt more potently acts upon the Iron, and introduced Tincture better than Aqua-fortis.

Although any Iron, as you see, may be changed into Copper or Gold, yet no profit is thence to be expected, for commonly some part of the Gold remains in the solution, and is not precipitated; and which way this may be separated from the Water is not known to all. Therefore it is better to omit this Operation, than to labour and be at charge to no purpose: For reduction of this Gold, mixt with the solution, experienced men are required, which will do all things with judgment, and are not contented with that only which exposeth it self to sight.

Yet I do not in any wise think that such gradation cannot be instituted without profit. If we can really transmute a very small Particle of Iron into Gold or Copper, Why may we not also do the same in a greater quantity? It is our faults if we do it not, who are ignorant how to use rightly Salts of gradation, sufficiently able to compleat the work. That the way of effecting that was known to Paracelsus, I doubt not; yet he would not communicate it to the ungrateful World, but referred the divulgation thereof to the coming of Elias the Artist, and that not without Reason. I doubt not, but that this gradation may be performed with very great profit, by help of my Sal Mirabile, or Salt of Art; yet I cannot subscribe to it as an infallible certainty. I have other things now in hand to speak of: My Labours and almost incredible Charges have discovered various secrets, which I publickly communicate for the profit of my Neighbour. Other things may be effected in time, by which (Darkness being discussed) Light may be given to the World, and the Miracles of the Omnipotent GOD be exposed to the view of all. Here is need of Labour.

That Gradation of Iron may be made by the help of appropriate salts, so as to be changed into Copper, Silver, or Gold, our Sal Mirabile plainly enough declares, whether the gradation be instituted in an humid way, or Cementation made in the dry.

Now it remains, that we demonstrate, that such gradation may be made by spirits, having power of perfecting and fixing, so as no consumption of the Iron be, as we see done in the addition of Aqua-fortis. It is sure that the same gradation which Lazarus Ercker said, he observed in the aforesaid Mountains, is of like condition; and since we possess such Spirits, we also, remote from Mountains, may effect the same. I cannot believe that any other can (if he would) teach us the way of preparing such spirits, besides Elias the Artist.

In what relates to me, I say, that this gradation of Iron may be the better performed, Copper, Silver, and Gold must first be reduced into Vitriol, having power to effect gradation, and that indeed by the benefit of the Salt of Art. I have more than once, by the help of the Salt of Art, changed silver or gold into a green Vitriol: I need not speak of Copper, the mutation of which is far more easie, yet the other is not very difficult, and indeed in an humid way. For I have not seldome (when it happened that the Iron being consumed, my labour was to no purpose) had one end of an Iron Wier changed into Copper, and the other into Gold. If time will permit, for my Friends sake, and that they may be mindful of me, I will repeat the same labour. But the principal thing, which infers difficulty in this Operation, is a too great corrosion of the Iron by the Vitriol.

Note. Besides this, there are other things, which cause difficulty, and so render the labour invalid, in the dry way as well as in the humid, viz. the aptness of Glasses to break in the humid; and of Crucibles in the dry way; whence it comes to pass, that the Sal Mirabile cannot be kept in them a due time, but runs out.

The gradation of iron into gold, in what way soever made, without gold can very difficultly be perfected; and if a glass happen to break, Who shall be able to gather up what runs out? The loss of one gradation, by the breaking of the Vessel, and outflowing of the Liquor, will scarcely be repaired with 5 or 6 other gradations compleated without loss. Therefore it is best to desist from such Works.

Of that Operation, which is performed by the dry way, the reason is the same. For here the gold, which is added for gradation, is almost all lost, without regard to the breaking of Crucibles, which by that means cannot contain the Salt of Art its due time: And besides all this, the substance of the Crucible will imbibe some of it, and together with the same part of the Gold; and, Who can without loss extract it thence? Yea, we think the Crucibles drink in a greater quantity of the gold, than we acquire by the gradation, although our Work succeed well. By Experience it is manifest to me, that when there are eight parts of Gold, but one part of Iron in gradation is changed into Gold, which way soever the Work is performed. What will it avail to spend our time in perfecting those things, the event of which is very uncertain? This is the reason why very many with me have refused this profitable Operation.

We considering the possibility of the matter, whether it was possible to prevent those difficulties, began to labour, but to no purpose, a great while, until at length it pleased the Highest Giver of all Good things to hear our Prayers, and opened to us the way of preparing such Glasses, as (although not luted) are able to bear the vehemency of Fire without coating; and Crucibles also we know how to harden so, as they will continually keep Metals in Flux. I now hope, if GOD hinder not, for better success.