1which they have created, or close by the shore which borders them. . . .
Nor did the hollow places which now contain the seas all formerly exist,
nor yet the mountains which check and break their advance, but in many
parts there was a level plain, until the force of winds let loose upon it a
tumultuous sea and a scathing tide. By a similar process the impact of
water entirely overthrows and flattens out hills and mountains. But
these changes of local conditions, numerous and important as they are, are
not noticed by the common people to be taking place at the very moment
when they are happening, because, through their antiquity, the time, place,
and manner in which they began is far prior to human memory. The wind
produces hills and mountains in two ways: either when set loose and free
from bonds, it violently moves and agitates the sand; or else when, after
having been driven into the hidden recesses of the earth by cold, as into a
prison, it struggles with a great effort to burst out. For hills and mountains
are created in hot countries, whether they are situated by the sea coasts or
in districts remote from the sea, by the force of winds; these no longer held
in check by the valleys, but set free, heap up the sand and dust, which they
gather from all sides, to one spot, and a mass arises and grows together. If
time and space allow, it grows together and hardens, but if it be not allowed
(and in truth this is more often the case), the same force again scatters the
sand far and wide. . . . Then, on the other hand, an earthquake
either rends and tears away part of a mountain, or engulfs and devours the
whole mountain in some fearful chasm. In this way it is recorded the
Cybotus was destroyed, and it is believed that within the memory of man
an island under the rule of Denmark disappeared. Historians tell us that
Taygetus suffered a loss in this way, and that Therasia was swallowed up
with the island of Thera. Thus it is clear that water and the powerful
winds produce mountains, and also scatter and destroy them. Fire only
consumes them, and does not produce at all, for part of the mountains—
usually the inner part—takes fire.”
Nor did the hollow places which now contain the seas all formerly exist,
nor yet the mountains which check and break their advance, but in many
parts there was a level plain, until the force of winds let loose upon it a
tumultuous sea and a scathing tide. By a similar process the impact of
water entirely overthrows and flattens out hills and mountains. But
these changes of local conditions, numerous and important as they are, are
not noticed by the common people to be taking place at the very moment
when they are happening, because, through their antiquity, the time, place,
and manner in which they began is far prior to human memory. The wind
produces hills and mountains in two ways: either when set loose and free
from bonds, it violently moves and agitates the sand; or else when, after
having been driven into the hidden recesses of the earth by cold, as into a
prison, it struggles with a great effort to burst out. For hills and mountains
are created in hot countries, whether they are situated by the sea coasts or
in districts remote from the sea, by the force of winds; these no longer held
in check by the valleys, but set free, heap up the sand and dust, which they
gather from all sides, to one spot, and a mass arises and grows together. If
time and space allow, it grows together and hardens, but if it be not allowed
(and in truth this is more often the case), the same force again scatters the
sand far and wide. . . . Then, on the other hand, an earthquake
either rends and tears away part of a mountain, or engulfs and devours the
whole mountain in some fearful chasm. In this way it is recorded the
Cybotus was destroyed, and it is believed that within the memory of man
an island under the rule of Denmark disappeared. Historians tell us that
Taygetus suffered a loss in this way, and that Therasia was swallowed up
with the island of Thera. Thus it is clear that water and the powerful
winds produce mountains, and also scatter and destroy them. Fire only
consumes them, and does not produce at all, for part of the mountains—
usually the inner part—takes fire.”
The major portion of Book III. is devoted to the origin of ore channels,
which we reproduce at some length on page 47. In the latter part of Book
III., and in Books IV. and V., he discusses the principal divisions of the mineral
kingdom given in De Natura Fossilium, and the origin of their characteristics.
It involves a large amount of what now appears fruitless tilting at the Peripa
tetics and the alchemists; but nevertheless, embracing, as Agricola did, the
fundamental Aristotelian elements, he must needs find in these same ele
ments and their subordinate binary combinations cause for every variation in
external character.
which we reproduce at some length on page 47. In the latter part of Book
III., and in Books IV. and V., he discusses the principal divisions of the mineral
kingdom given in De Natura Fossilium, and the origin of their characteristics.
It involves a large amount of what now appears fruitless tilting at the Peripa
tetics and the alchemists; but nevertheless, embracing, as Agricola did, the
fundamental Aristotelian elements, he must needs find in these same ele
ments and their subordinate binary combinations cause for every variation in
external character.
Bermannus.
This, Agricola's first work in relation to mining, was appa
rently first published at Basel, 1530. The work is in the form of a dialogue
between “Bermannus,” who is described as a miner, mineralogist, and “a
student of mathematics and poetry,” and “Nicolaus Ancon” and “Johannes
Neavius,” both scholars and physicians. Ancon is supposed to be of philoso
phical turn of mind and a student of Moorish literature, Naevius to be par
ticularly learned in the writings of Dioscorides, Pliny, Galen, etc. “Berman-
rently first published at Basel, 1530. The work is in the form of a dialogue
between “Bermannus,” who is described as a miner, mineralogist, and “a
student of mathematics and poetry,” and “Nicolaus Ancon” and “Johannes
Neavius,” both scholars and physicians. Ancon is supposed to be of philoso
phical turn of mind and a student of Moorish literature, Naevius to be par
ticularly learned in the writings of Dioscorides, Pliny, Galen, etc. “Berman-
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