PART ONE

In these, one sees volatile and spiritual gold, which, by the power of separation, yields the gold from itself.

Coarse and fine sand containing flaming and light gold gives a blue smoke upon burning and is exalted in color to a dark hue. However, it contains nothing that is not altered.

Fine yellow or red earth, passing like a vein through sand or a mountain, also contains gold that is for the most part volatile and immature. It flies off in reduction, having an entry into the Moon i.e., silver and other metals, and is therefore conservable in this manner.

For the sake of better knowledge, you may also test the stones with fusible white glass, a matter discussed in the Fourth Part of the Philosophical Furnaces, so that you may not have cause to impute to me the blame of an error committed. Therefore, I wish to premonish you that not all stones contain gold, nor is it separable from all of them by the spirit of salt. Recognize them, therefore, before they are applied to the work.

First, it is necessary to heat the flints in the fire until they are red-hot, then quench them in cold water, and afterward, having taken them out and cooled them, to grind them most finely.

NB. When they are ground in a mortar, the better parts can easily be separated from the ignoble ones.