And although my intention in this Book extendeth no farther than the extracting of Gold out of Stones, Sand, and Flints, yet nothing hinders but that in a few words, I may also shew, that in Stones, there is not onely fixed Gold, but also volatile, whence a true Tincture may be perfected. Which Tincture I have not as yet made, but nevertheless I am certainly perswaded that it is in no wise impossible to be done. For whosoever can render the first Ens of Gold, in Stones, volatile, and draw it out by Distillation, he will continually obtain a gradatory water, whereby he may coagulate every running Mercury into good Gold. But he that knoweth how to joyn this volatile Gold with corporal Sol, to unite them and procure ingress, may thence expect a far greater good. For the first Ens of Gold is more conducible for the preparing Tinctures, than corporal Gold, as one of the Philosophers hath signified in the following words: Thou canst not make Gold or Silver, except thou shalt obtain their first Ens. The first Ens of Gold, which is hidden in all Vegetables and Animals, coagulateth Mercury also into a yellowness, but not constant; but if it shall be fixed, it also coagulateth and fixeth with constancy, but not before. Therefore it is most certainly true, that where Sulphur is, there is also the first Ens of Gold; and where there is the first Ens of Gold, there is also Tincture. Therefore seeing that Sulphur may be found, in all things in the World, even in the smallest Herb, it followeth that also from every Herb, Wood, Stone, or Bone, a true Tincture may be prepared. Whosoever will believe, let him, it matters little to me whether it be believed or not, I think my self satisfied in that I have not put that light which I have received under a Bushel, but have exhibited it to the World for information. For the light conduceth nothing to him who is blind, and resolveth to remain so. You shall find more in my third Century, as also in the sixth part of my Pharmacopœa Spagyrica.
How it may be known whether Sand, Flints, and the like Stones, being pregnant with Gold, contain much Gold, or but little.
White Sand and Flint, contain the least Gold of all; which Sand indeed is never without Gold, although it cannot be extracted from it with profit. In the white and red, there is more Gold than in the white, nevertheless not always so much as will pay the cost. In the yellow, brown, or black, there is commonly much Gold contained, whensoever veins of white or yellow Sand run through them, and especially when such Sand shineth with abundance of small golden sparks, closely adhering to each other. In like manner that Sand is rich in Sol, which is like to Talck, or when Stones are found in it, in which there is red or brown Talck, even as Sol is contained almost in every Talck, nevertheless in some more, in other less.
All River Pebbles (which although outwardly they appear white, yet when heated red hot and broken, are stained with yellowness, and contain Sol) are in extracting sufficiently rich in Gold.
Green, yellow, or blue Stones, being transparent like horn [called in the German Tongue Hornstein] are also for the most part fruitfull in Gold. Also all red, dark-coloured and black Flints contain Gold, with which Iron is frequently admixed, which in the extraction is drawn out with the Sol, and weakneth the Menstruum, and rendereth it unprofitable.
All Quarries or rocky Stones, whether they be found in the Earth after the manner of Ducts, or whether they lie in the open Air, when they are coloured, contain Gold. Every Hæmatites, and that which is a kin to it, the Smiris, the Granate, and Lapis Lazuli, all contain Gold, nevertheless always one more than another, so that some of them are rich in Gold.
All Granates contain Gold, and besides Gold, also the first Ens of gold; but they are endowed with so hard a body, that Aqua Fortis cannot exercise its power upon them. But there may be a remedy found, by whose help their extraction may be instituted.
In every golden Stone called Chrysocolla, Saphyr, Ruby, Amethyst, and Hiacynth, there is gold, but difficult to be extracted. All Fluors or things fluxing, which are applied to the Mines of Sol and Lune, for the bringing their Oars to a flux or melting, whether they be of a violet colour, or purple, yellow, red, or green) are all endowed with unripe and volatile gold. Which if you shall make red hot, the colour evaporateth like a green, yellow, or red smoke, leaving the Stones white. But if any Man shall know how to intercept, and detain such fugacious Sol, he may therewith coagulate Mercury into gold. In like manner from all Stones, in which is the first Ens of gold, a green-water may be extracted by the help of Distillation, in which Mercury coagulateth it self into gold. The Ancient Philosophers have called such a green-water, their Green Lyon, which devoureth gold, and of it prepareth a Tincture for Lune and Mercury.
Concerning this matter, I could indeed say somewhat more, did not the avarice and improbity of Men, who seek nothing but the damage of their Neighbour, restrain me. Hence all those in which any light of God shall arise, ought diligently to beware that they communicate nothing of it to wicked Men, although they put on the shape of an Angel. For Faith is now no where kept among Men, as these following words of a golden Alphabet do witness.
Soli Deo tu Confidas,