De metallorum ortu & causis

-que connecting to the previous page's "ne-" does it exist as something meltable. Second, because it is not made from the matter of metals. For in its matter there is more airy substance than watery. Because of this, it never congeals into metallic hardness. Aristotle explained this very clearly in his own words in the fourth book of Meteorology Meteoron.
Chapter 8.

Those things (he says) cannot congeal which pertain to water, since meanwhile they have more air in them, like oil, like glue, like quicksilver, and if anything is sticky, like glue and pitch. Soon after he adds that those things likewise cannot congeal which are devoid of watery liquid. Moreover, in the matter of metals there is more watery substance than airy, otherwise they would by no means congeal into hardness. But we will speak more extensively about the matter of metals in its proper place. Therefore, we must return to the division of metals, from which we have digressed for a short while. Further-