Agricola, Georgius - De re metallica

Since I have written of the varied work of pre
paring the ores, I will now write of the various
methods of smelting them. Although those who
burn, roast and calcine2 the ore, take from it some
thing which is mixed or combined with the metals;
and those who crush it with stamps take away much;
and those who wash, screen and sort it, take away
still more; yet they cannot remove all which con
ceals the metal from the eye and renders it crude
and unformed. Wherefore smelting is necessary, for by this means earths,
solidified juices, and stones are separated from the metals so that they
obtain their proper colour and become pure, and may be of great use to
mankind in many ways. When the ore is smelted, those things which
were mixed with the metal before it was melted are driven forth, because
the metal is perfected by fire in this manner. Since metalliferous ores
differ greatly amongst themselves, first as to the metals which they con
tain, then as to the quantity of the metal which is in them, and then by
the fact that some are rapidly melted by fire and others slowly, there are,
therefore, many methods of smelting. Constant practice has taught the

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