In the [Fourth Part of the Prosperity of Germany].
In [Page 397]. b. the Letter A. signifies one part, and B. three parts.
In [Page 398]. a. by the first X. is understood Alkalies, and by the other X. is meant a fixt Salt, helping on Liquefaction or Fusion.
Here follow some profitable Operations, and which appertain to the Extraction of Metallick Earths; they are indeed treated of, or published in the first Century; but because of the omitting of some words, they are hard to be understood: which, forasmuch as they comprise the things that primarily concern the Extraction of Gold and Silver, it seemed to me a matter worth the while to insert the same in this Appendix, the which (as I hope) will not be unacceptable to those that search after such great Secrets.
31. By what means volatile Gold is to be compendiously extracted by the moist way, out of coloured Flints, red Talk, Granates, Sand, Clay, and such-like Oars or Minerals, and made corporeal.
First of all, such Minerals are to be heated red-hot in the Fire, and be quenched, then ground with Mill-stones, and are to be put in Stone-Pots, or Waldenburg-Pots, or Colein-Pots, that in them they may be moistned with pouring Aqua Regia thereupon. These Pots you must put Coals about, and heat them well. The Minera’s being together with the Aqua Regia well heated, there must be poured thereupon so much Common warm water, as will suffice to wash off the Aqua Regia. Being on this wise moistned, they are to be put into great Pots made of good Potters Earth, having a many little holes in the bottom, over which is some Cap-paper to be spread, that nothing of the Oars fall out through the holes, but the water onely may distill down. After that all the first water is run out, you must pour on more hot water, and these pourings on are to be so often repeated, till the water tasts on more saltish, for then it has carried off with it the Aqua Regia that contained the Gold in it.
N. B. The Pots are to be set upon a Bench or Dresser that hath holes in it, so that the [Waters] may pass through the bottoms by the holes, and Vessels may be set there-under.
N. B. The Minerals may also be put in Barrels, having a double bottom, such as those Barrels are in which they use to wash out the Salt-peter with Common water out of the Earth. And now after the same manner are the pourings on of Common water to be so long continued till there is no more saltishness perceived.
N. B. Albeit that there is no more tast of saltness discernable, yet nevertheless some of the Salt doth as yet abide with them, [viz. with the Oars] and which is to be turned into Salt-peter, on this wise following.