Agricola, Georgius, De re metallica, 1912/1950

Table of figures

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              BOOK IX.
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              1
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              <s>Since I have written of the varied work of pre­
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              paring the ores, I will now write of the various
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              methods of smelting them. </s>
              <s>Although those who
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              burn, roast and calcine
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              2
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              the ore, take from it some­
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              thing which is mixed or combined with the metals;
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              and those who crush it with stamps take away much;
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              and those who wash, screen and sort it, take away
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              still more; yet they cannot remove all which con­
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              ceals the metal from the eye and renders it crude
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              and unformed. </s>
              <s>Wherefore smelting is necessary, for by this means earths,
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              solidified juices, and stones are separated from the metals so that they
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              obtain their proper colour and become pure, and may be of great use to
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              mankind in many ways. </s>
              <s>When the ore is smelted, those things which
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              were mixed with the metal before it was melted are driven forth, because
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              the metal is perfected by fire in this manner. </s>
              <s>Since metalliferous ores
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              differ greatly amongst themselves, first as to the metals which they con­
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              tain, then as to the quantity of the metal which is in them, and then by
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              the fact that some are rapidly melted by fire and others slowly, there are,
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              therefore, many methods of smelting. </s>
              <s>Constant practice has taught the
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