THE FIRST PART

afterwards into a better metal, or converted into æs viride verdigris/green copper, in the absence of a better art, a business which also contributes abundantly to honestly sustaining a family. In this way, the rejected slags of ☉ gold, ☽ silver, and ♀ copper can also be separated and extracted with profit. But because I have decided to treat here only of the extraction of gold from stones, those solvents that are used in the extraction of ♀ copper, ☽ silver, and other metals are deservedly omitted here, reserved for another place where they will eventually be handed down, if I see that this demonstration is accepted in the eyes of men, which will be followed by many other most excellent things. Just as I have now undertaken to treat a better material for the sake of the fatherland, from which it will appear that Germany, however much reduced to extremities, is still sufficiently wealthy if it only wishes at last to see with open eyes the treasures hidden away. There is no need to offer chewed food, for a demonstration is sufficient; nor is it advisable to force good things upon the negligent; for to the ungrateful, even the best things are ungrateful. Leaving these things aside, therefore, I will briefly give the demonstration and extraction of those flints; not doubting that those who are experienced and practiced, even if the inert can accomplish nothing, will perceive fruit and profit from it, and will give thanks to God.

As far as those aforementioned stones from which gold can be extracted are concerned, the matter stands thus. Every kind of flint generally contains invisible gold within itself, sometimes visible and invisible, volatile and corporal at the same time; many, however, commonly contain impure, volatile, iron-like gold, and at the same time mature gold; but few contain sulfurous-copper gold.