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

by Johann Rudolf Glauber

Seeing therefore an easie, and compendious way of melting metals, I began to work, and to begin a new search, and every day I found more and more in nature, viz. the greatest and most pleasant secrets of nature; wherefore I did without ceasing seek, until God had opened mine eyes to see that which I sought a long time for in vain. Where also I observed, that although I had before had more knowledge of nature, yet without this furnace I could scarce have done any thing that had been singular. And so God willing, by the help of this furnace, I found out more and more dayly, for which blessing I give to the immortal God immortal thanks, resolving to communicate this new invention candidly, and faithfully for the sake of my neighbour. Judge therefore O Chymist! whether this, or that which is made by the help of bellows and common vents, be the best? For how long doth he that will melt a hard metal in a wind furnace give fire to it before it will flow, and with what loss of time, and coals? He that doth melt by the help of bellows hath need of a companion to blow, with great danger of breaking the crucible with the winde, and of making it fall when the coals are abated, or of impurities falling into the crucible in case the cover thereof should fall off, although there can be no detriment by impurities falling in, if the matter be metallick, but not so if it be a salt or mineral, (without which that cannot be perfected in the fire) not induring the impurities of the coals, but boyling over by reason of them. Now our furnace is free from this danger, because the wind comes from beneath and crucibles come always into sight, not being so overwhelmed with coals as in the common way, &c. For by this means the matter to be melted is flowed, although the crucibles be not covered over with coals, nor with a cover, and although thou hast not a companion to blow, for you may at pleasure give any degree of fire by the direction of the register. When therefore thou makest any trial in the fire have this furnace which is recommended to thee, which build rightly with its register for the governing of the fire, and for the drawing of wind, and without doubt this labour shall not be in vain.

How minerals are to be tryed.

The manner of trying minerals hath been already made known, wherefore it is not needful here to write many things, because divers Authors, as Georgius Agricola, Lazarus Ercker, and others have sufficiently wrote thereof, to whose writings I refer thee, especially to that most famous Lazarus Ercker which is so much commended, De Probatione Mineralium, as well maglignant (obstinate) as mild. But thus much know, being that which experience hath also taught us, that neither he nor his predecessours had a perfect knowledge of all things, nor would reveal all things they knew. For many excellent things do yet lye hid, and perhaps shall yet for a while lye hid by reason of the ingratitude of the world; although the most famous Philosophers do with one consent affirm that imperfect metals, as lead, tin, iron, copper, and Mercury, are intrinsecally gold, and silver, although it may seem very improbable to many that are not curious, but contented with the opinions of their parents; supposing those minerals to be barren that leave nothing in the cuple, when they are tryed with lead: when as yet that proof by cuples although famous, is not yet that true Philosophical trial of metals, but only vulgar, according to the testimony of Philosophers, as of Isaac Hollandus, and others, especially of Paracelsus in many places treating of metals, but especially in his book Vexationum Alchymistarum, containing a true description of the properties, and perfection of metals. Which although not being to be understood by all, matters not; for a very easie art is not to be communicated to all, according to Paracelsus saying. Imperfect metals being freed from their impurities have in them abundance of gold, and silver. But how metals are to be purged, and separated he doth not teach, but only commends lead to be the Author; which made the Alchymist believe that it was common lead, not knowing that the water thereof (lead) did not only purge other metals, but also lead it self; supposing also that the trial of tin, copper, and iron, made in a cuple with lead to be that true genuine bath thereof; not observing that lead hath no affinity with iron, and tin in a stronger fire, but to reject what is black, and unclean, without any perfection. Now this lead can do, if viz. it be mixed with a mineral that hath gold or silver in it, and be melted in the fire being incorporated with it, it may together with their impurities enter into the Cuple, the good gold and silver being left in the Cuple, which is the proof of minerals that are digged, and used; and it is done upon this account, viz. gold and silver may be naturally purged of their superfluous sulphur, so as never to be any more radically united, and mixed with those that be imperfect, as being polluted with abundance of crude, impure sulphur, although they may be melted together in the fire; yet that mixture being retained in the fire, the combustible sulphur of common metals, acts upon its own proper argent vive, and turns it into dross, which being separated from the metals enters into the porous matter of the cuples, that which doth not happen in tests, fixed in the fire, which that dross being separated from the metals cannot enter into, being made of an earth that is durable in the fire, the dross remaining in them, which otherwise was wont to enter into those cuples that are made of the ashes of bones, or wood. Wherefore by little and little it goes away into the cuple, viz. as much as the fire reduced into a Litharge, or dross, until all the Lead mixed with the Gold and Silver together with other imperfect metals mixed with it go into dross, and hide themselves in the cuple, the pure gold and silver being left in the cuple. For Lead in a plain vessel, feeling the heat from above, but beneath cold, is turned into a Litharge, which if it be in an earthen fixed vessel, the Litharge remains, and goes in a yellow transparent glass at last, if it be not mixed with other metals, as iron, copper, tin; which being mixed therewith, give to the glass a green, red, black, or white colour, according to the quantity of the metallick matter: but in a porous cuple made of ashes, the Litharge, or dross finding pores, enters into the cuple by little and little, and successively, until all the Lead be entred in, which could not be if it were not turned into Litharge. This vulgar trying is therefore nothing else but a transmutation of Lead, with the imperfect metals mixed with it, into dross, which entring into the cuple leaves in the cuple pure gold, and silver, that cannot be turned into dross by reason of their purity.

But perhaps this discourse may seem to thee unprofitable, and superfluous, because this trial of metals is known all the world over: but for answer, I say that it is not superfluous, because many refiners erre, supposing that corporeal Lead together with the imperfect metals that are mixed with it, goes into the cuple, not being yet turned into Litharge, because corporeal Lead is again melted from thence; for whose sake this discourse is not properly ordained, as being those that operate out of use, and custom only without discretion; but rather for their sakes, who do incessantly seek after, and search into the secrets of nature, viz. seeking after that Philosophical tryal, which is known to few, by the help whereof more gold and silver is obtained than by the common way, but it is not to be discovered in this place; for all must not have the knowledge thereof; It is sufficient that I have demonstrated the possibility thereof. Yet know this, if thou knowest how to prepare Lead, Tin, Copper, and Iron, and to fit them for a radical union, viz. that aforesaid water of Saturn, so as they may endure the force of the fire together, thou mayst separate and attract gold, and silver from the aforesaid imperfect metals, and with gain leaving them in the cuple, or else you shall draw little or nothing from thence [See Explicat. Mirac. Mundi.] And if you do intend to try them with Lead after the vulgar way, and bring them into dross, yet you do nothing, because tin and iron abounding with gold and silver, do not remain with the lead in a strong fire, but are lifted up like a skin or dross, by reason of their superfluous sulphur, swimming like fat upon water, without any separation, unless it be tin or iron, which got gold or silver from the mine in their first fusion.

And by this means it falls out sometimes, that some may make a good proof, but out of ignorance, not knowing a reason of their operation, wherefore they cannot do the same again. For if Chymists, and Refiners did consider the matter more profoundly, enquiring the cause, wherefore lead being tryed, deprived of its silver, and melted in a cuple, should yet contain in it self silver, without doubt they would hit upon a good foundation; without which knowledge all their labour in imperfect metals would be in vain. And let this suffice concerning that Philosophical tryal, which is known to few; There is no need of speaking any thing of that vulgar, being every where known, of which Lazarus Ercker wrote plainly and fully.

There is also another proof of minerals, which is without Lead, with Venice, or any other good fusible glass, where one or two ounces of the powdered mineral are mixed with half an ounce of the powdered glass, and being mixed and covered in a crucible, are melted, and poured out; by which means the glass attracts, and dissolves that mineral, and is thereby coloured, which shews what metal is contained in the mine, after which may be made another tryal by Lead, tryal being first made by the first proof. And this is the fittest proof for the hardest minerals, which are even invincible, as are the Lapis hemititis, smiris, granats, talck black and red, and those which abound oftentimes with gold, and silver, which because they cannot be mixed with Lead are not esteemed, but are oftentimes cast away, although they abound with gold and silver, and this because they cannot be tryed, Which being tryed after the aforesaid manner, and consequently the treasures lying therein being discovered, thou mayst afterward with more confidence handle them, and reduce them to better profit. Now those colours which follow, indicate the tenure of them. Glass resembling the greenness of the Sea signifies meer Copper, but the greenness of grass, signifys copper, and iron mixed together: glass of a rusty colour signifys iron: yellowish glass signfys tin, glass of a yellow golden colour, or like a red ruby signifys silver: Blew glass like a saphir signifys pure gold; a smaragdine signifys gold mixed with silver: An Amethyst colour signifys gold, silver, copper, and iron mixed together. Besides these, glass sometimes gets other colours, according to the diversity of the weight of divers metals mixed together; which use will teach with a further practise that is to be made with Saturn.

There is also another precursory tryal of minerals, and metals, which is made with Salt-peter; where especially tin, iron, and copper do largely draw forth their treasures hid in them, which they will not yield being tryed by Lead, the which is not a sign of their poverty, but rather of not a true tryal made by Lead, which is not the true, and genuine judge, and tryer of metals. For otherwise (if it were) it would draw forth their treasure as well out of a greater quantity of metallick matter, as out of a lesser. Now follows the tryal by Nitre: Make a mixture of one part of sulphur, of two parts of pure Tartar, and four parts of purified Nitre, then take an ounce of this mixture, and one dram of the mineral or metal ground small, mix those together, and being put into a crucible, put a red hot iron or burning coal to them, and that mixture will be inflamed, and yield a most vehement fire, reducing that mineral or metal into dross: And what is not brought into dross must again be mixed with the aforesaid mixture, and be burnt as before, until the whole be consumed by the fire. Then make that dross or salt containing in it the metal that is destroyed, to flow so long in a strong crucible, untill it be made glass; which being poured out there are found grains of gold or silver, which came from the mineral or metal that was tryed. And this opperation (if it be well done) will be a pleasant sight, but without profit, because it cannot be done in a great quantity, and by reason of the price of the Nitre. Wherefore I set this way of tryal only for demonstration sake, that it might appear how almost all tin, iron, and copper, contain in them gold and silver, although they do not draw it forth in the Cuple.

Now do not suppose that this is transmutation, which is only separation; wherefore thou must consider with thy self how that may be performed otherwise. But take heed that thou do not kindle this mixture from beneath, being put upon the coals, but from above, by reason of the danger of flashing: Also metals are easily fusible by the following mixture. Take one part of the saw-dust of the wood of the teil-tree being well dryed, two parts of sulphur, eight or nine parts of pure Nitre. Make stratum super stratum in a crusible, and take to 11, or 12. parts of this mixture; one part of the metal subtilly ground, and kindle them, and the mine being melted will yield grains of pure Gold and Silver, if the mine were not too impure, the impurity thereof be consumed by that most vehement fire. And if this tryal be not for thy profit, yet it is rational, and may be for thine instruction.

Of the melting of mines and metals.

The melting of these in a great quantity is not for this place, because they cannot be done by this furnace, but it is treated of plainly enough by others in their writings of minerals.