Zink is a Volatile Mineral, or a half ripe Metal when it is drawn out of its Ore. It is much clearer and brighter than Tin, yet not so malleable and fluxile as Tin is, and it is usually put to Tin to make it brighter and harder. We have it not much growing in Germany, but great quantity of it is every year brought us by the Merchants out of the East-Indies. The way how to prepare it for Medicinal uses, have I described in the first part of the Philosophical Furnaces. It is a golden but an unripe Mineral, it gives Red Copper a Yellow Colour and turns it into Brass, as Lapis Calaminaris doth; and indeed that same Stone is nothing else but unmeltable Zink, and this Zink may properly be called a fusile Lapis Calaminaris; for as much as both of them partake of one nature. But with Zink, there is most an end conjoined Lead too, and then it is not fit to make Brass of, unless the Lead be first taken thereoutof; so it is at Goslaria, where together with the Minera or Ore of Zink is Lead also digg’d out mixt amongst it, and is called a Lead Ore, though there be contained in that Ore, four times more of Zink than there is of Lead, and yet they burn up the Zink for to have the Lead, which Lead hath some Silver in it. In the melting it flies away in fume, and it is a volatile and combustible Mineral, and sublimes it self up into the holes of the Furnace, whereupon the Melters or Founders are constrained to knock it off frequently, least it should too much lessen the Furnace; this matter they knock off, they call Calmei (which is Lapis Calaminaris) and which turns red Copper into Brass, with encrease (of its weight); and so verily by means of the not-knowing or being skill’d in this Ore, a great quantity is yearly burnt up and lost. Sometimes the founders do gather somewhat of the Zink, which is most excellently excellent; but that Ore might be melted with far greater profit, if they did not so burn up the Zink, and force it into fume, but seeing men are hardly drawn back from an old custom, it must be born with.
But yet (I say again) if that Ore were handled in a due manner, there would redound far greater profit thencefrom than now doth. Such a kind of Mineral as this is doth Westphalia also yield, which the founders there accompt for a Leaden Ore, because it has some load mixed with it, but when it comes to be freed or molten it goes (all) away in fume, and therefore they say, it is also a Calmei or Calaminaris Ore, and so it lies unused.
Of Calmei or Lapis Calaminaris.
Calmei Ore is digged out in many places in Germany, but there is none of such note as that which is found at Aquisgrane, for that is wholly void of all kind of Leadyness, and much different from that of Goslaria, or Westphalia; and therefore it is also very fit to make Brass of, which is there made in plenty, and farther, this has Gold in it, though not so much as to quit the Costs of separating it. But there is no Mineral richer with Gold than this, and could it but be ripened (and I doubt not at all of the possibility of so doing) a good deal of Gold might be drawn out from thence.
As concerning what else may be performed with that Mineral, I have formerly told you in my First and Second Part of Furnaces, nor is it needful to treat of the same thing more at large in this place.
Of Common Sulphur.
Sulphur or Brimstone is the most known, most used, and most combustible Mineral of all. As touching its uses in Medicine, and in Alchimy, about the separation of Metals; may you find something mentioned by my self, in the writings I formerly published, and in the writings of others too.
But at present we will only mind you of this, viz. That it is the very Foundation and Root of all the Metals; for tis rare to find any mine wherein Sulphur does not shew it self. Very many places in the World, is Sulphur both made and digged out of the Earth, in very great quantity, & that chiefly in Island, and in Italy, nigh to those always burning Mountains, Heckla and Vesuvius; it is also drawn out of Marchasites per Descensum in many places of Germany, so that enough of it may every where be had for a little money.
These are the chiefest Minerals that I ever knew of, and these are they which are commonly sought after, and applied to use. But now, besides these, there are so many various kinds of Fossiles and Minerals to be met withal, that one cannot reckon them all up, or give them peculiar Names. One contains Sulphur, and Arsenick, another, Cobolt and Sulphur; another Antimony, and Arsenick, and of that kind are there very many more. But yet those that we have reckoned up, are the most known, and most in use, and therefore shall at present be sufficient for us to speak of.
Having now taught what Minerals are, and which of them are most known & used; I will now teach, in the next place, by what means they may (by the help of Salt-petre, & of other Subjects) be fixed, concentrated, imbodied, or brought into Metals, so as to be rendred profitable for the use of Mankind, and which otherwise lie every where to and again neglected and, are wont to be of no esteem.