Collected Works on Bismuth

by Amadeus Friedlibius.

To bring our substance, i.e., Bismuth, into running Mercury the metal in a liquid state, whose character is this:

Two alchemical characters are displayed. On the left, the symbol for Mercury (☿) is enclosed within a circle. On the right, a complex vertical character consists of a cross at the top, a circle in the middle, and a vertical line ending in a hook to the left at the bottom; this is an alchemical representation for Bismuth.

the same can be made from the ore of Jupiter tin.

1. The aforementioned substance must be ground entirely fine, like flour, and sifted.
2. Spread this flour thinly in flat, wide glass dishes or unglazed earthen bowls. During the entire month of April, May, or June, (i.e., all these three months are good for it, and one month is necessary each time) when the weather is beautiful, clear, and calm, place it under the open sky. In the morning, however, before the sun shines upon it, take it back in, place it in the aforementioned mortar, and grind it well with a good hard pestle of wood, stone, or glass for four, five, or six hours (partly before, partly after midday). As soon as it is ground, place it in the cellar until the evening (when it must be placed under the open air without wind, or if it is windy or rainy, it must remain in the cellar). Proceed thus, as mentioned above, for a whole month.