Some workers, into an ampulla which contains gold and silver and the
aqua which separates them, pour two or three times as much of this aqua
valens warmed, and into the same ampulla or into a dish into which all is
poured, throw fine leaves of black lead and copper; by this means the gold
adheres to the lead and the silver to the copper, and separately the lead
from the gold, and separately the copper from the silver, are parted in a
cupel. But no method is approved by us which loses the aqua used to part
gold from silver, for it might be used again12.
aqua which separates them, pour two or three times as much of this aqua
valens warmed, and into the same ampulla or into a dish into which all is
poured, throw fine leaves of black lead and copper; by this means the gold
adheres to the lead and the silver to the copper, and separately the lead
from the gold, and separately the copper from the silver, are parted in a
cupel. But no method is approved by us which loses the aqua used to part
gold from silver, for it might be used again12.
A glass ampulla, which bulges up inside at the bottom like a cone, is
covered on the lower part of the outside with lute in the way explained above,
and into it is put silver bullion weighing three and a half Roman librae. The
aqua which parts the one from the other is poured into it, and the ampulla is
placed in sand contained in an earthen vessel, or in a box, that it may be
warmed with a gentle fire. Lest the aqua should be exhaled, the top of the
ampulla is plastered on all sides with lute, and it is covered with a glass
operculum, under whose spout is placed another ampulla which receives the
distilled drops; this receiver is likewise arranged in a box containing sand.
When the contents are heated it reddens, but when the redness no
longer appears to increase, it is taken out of the vessel or box and shaken;
by this motion the aqua becomes heated again and grows red; if this is
done two or three times before other aqua is added to it, the operation is sooner
concluded, and much less aqua is consumed. When the first charge has all
been distilled, as much silver as at first is again put into the ampulla, for if
too much were put in at once, the gold would be parted from it with difficulty.
Then the second aqua is poured in, but it is warmed in order that it and the
ampulla may be of equal temperature, so that the latter may not be cracked
by the cold; also if a cold wind blows on it, it is apt to crack. Then the third
aqua is poured in, and also if circumstances require it, the fourth, that is to
say more aqua and again more is poured in until the gold assumes the colour
of burned brick. The artificer keeps in hand two aquae, one of which is
stronger than the other; the stronger is used at first, then the less strong,
then at the last again the stronger. When the gold becomes of a reddish
yellow colour, spring water is poured in and heated until it boils. The gold is
washed four times and then heated in the crucible until it melts. The water
with which it was washed is put back, for there is a little silver in it; for
this reason it is poured into an ampulla and heated, and the drops first distilled
are received by one ampulla, while those which come later, that is to say
when the operculum begins to get red, fall into another. This latter aqua is
useful for testing the gold, the former for washing it; the former may also
be poured over the ingredients from which the aqua valens is made.
covered on the lower part of the outside with lute in the way explained above,
and into it is put silver bullion weighing three and a half Roman librae. The
aqua which parts the one from the other is poured into it, and the ampulla is
placed in sand contained in an earthen vessel, or in a box, that it may be
warmed with a gentle fire. Lest the aqua should be exhaled, the top of the
ampulla is plastered on all sides with lute, and it is covered with a glass
operculum, under whose spout is placed another ampulla which receives the
distilled drops; this receiver is likewise arranged in a box containing sand.
When the contents are heated it reddens, but when the redness no
longer appears to increase, it is taken out of the vessel or box and shaken;
by this motion the aqua becomes heated again and grows red; if this is
done two or three times before other aqua is added to it, the operation is sooner
concluded, and much less aqua is consumed. When the first charge has all
been distilled, as much silver as at first is again put into the ampulla, for if
too much were put in at once, the gold would be parted from it with difficulty.
Then the second aqua is poured in, but it is warmed in order that it and the
ampulla may be of equal temperature, so that the latter may not be cracked
by the cold; also if a cold wind blows on it, it is apt to crack. Then the third
aqua is poured in, and also if circumstances require it, the fourth, that is to
say more aqua and again more is poured in until the gold assumes the colour
of burned brick. The artificer keeps in hand two aquae, one of which is
stronger than the other; the stronger is used at first, then the less strong,
then at the last again the stronger. When the gold becomes of a reddish
yellow colour, spring water is poured in and heated until it boils. The gold is
washed four times and then heated in the crucible until it melts. The water
with which it was washed is put back, for there is a little silver in it; for
this reason it is poured into an ampulla and heated, and the drops first distilled
are received by one ampulla, while those which come later, that is to say
when the operculum begins to get red, fall into another. This latter aqua is
useful for testing the gold, the former for washing it; the former may also
be poured over the ingredients from which the aqua valens is made.
The aqua that was first
distilled, which contains the silver, is poured into
an ampulla wide at the base, the top of which is also smeared with lute and
covered by an operculum, and is then boiled as before in order that it may be
separated from the silver. If there be so much aqua that (when boiled) it
an ampulla wide at the base, the top of which is also smeared with lute and
covered by an operculum, and is then boiled as before in order that it may be
separated from the silver. If there be so much aqua that (when boiled) it
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