Marengus — Chemical Pallas, ca. 1675 Multilingual MS

the celestial heat is better and more strongly contained within them, whereas in the fields it breathes out due to the softness of the earth. To this end, snows also contribute, as they are preserved longer upon the mountains. Thus, through antiparista antiperistasis, the opposition of qualities, the heat is bound within the roundness of the earth and fortified within itself. In contrast, in the flat countryside, this heat is dissolved by the external air. Mountains also abound more in metallic virtue, and more so in their deep parts than in their extremities, because the "fat moisture" is consumed by plants. As is clear from the slopes of mountains, this moisture flows down more freely, and its abundance on the surface of fields prevents the generation of metals. However, sterile and very high mountains are all metallic, both because the fat moisture which would generate and nourish plants is consumed within, and because the metallic breaths, being noxious, destroy the plants themselves.

In order that the metals themselves may be extracted from the mineral ores by art, one must proceed as follows: The stones of the ores are to be pounded in a bronze mortar so that they are reduced to a very fine powder. This powder must be passed through a sieve, as is done with flour. That which does not pass through the sieve should be pounded again and perfectly refined so that it can be

sifted. Then, common water should be poured over the sifted powder and washed as many times as necessary, so that as much as possible, the metallic powder is purged of earth and other impurities. You will then thoroughly dry this washed powder by the heat of a reverberatory furnace. When this is finished, the said powder should be placed in a ball or a mill made of marble or stone. It should be moistened with water or vinegar in which sublimatum mercury sublimate, viride aeris verdigris, and common salt have been dissolved. Then, place mercurius mercury or quicksilver upon the moistened matter in such a quantity that it covers the whole matter well. Afterwards, apply its grinding stone to the mill. The mill will have an iron handle with which you will lead it in a circle for one or two hours, or more; for the more it is worked, the better, because the mercury will attract more of the metallic substance. Then, the mercury should be washed with common water and separated from the earthiness by a sieve. Finally, pass the mercury through a leather bag and filter it. Whatever metallic substance it attracted will be left in the bottom of the bag. This metallic substance remaining in the leather, once well washed and extracted, is melted as is the custom, and thus