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Book V about lodestone, hematite, geodes, hematite, selenite, lapis secularum, asbestos, mica

Book V about lodestone, hematite, geodes, hematite, selenite, lapis secularum, asbestos, mica Page of 251 Book V about lodestone, hematite, geodes, hematite, selenite, lapis secularum, asbestos, mica Text size:minus plus Restore normal size   Mail page  Print this page
102
DE NATURA FOSSILIUΜ
over. It is found in the vicinity of Brunon associated with bitumen; near Stettin, Pomerania; near Marienberg, Prussia; on the banks of the Vistula river; near Hoching in the district of the Suebi not far from the Alps. Belemnites from Hildesheim is either gray, whitish or dark red. That found in Prussia is the color of Falernian amber. At first the material which was almost always transparent and similar to amber was the only variety called "lynx-stone" by our physicans but later the name was given to non-transparent belemnites of other colors. When burnt it becomes white or grayish white. Each variety is found between Hildesheim and Marien-burg on the left hand wall of a limestone cave named for dwarfs. This locality has every appearance of having been burnt except for the odor of the stone. A golden armatura not only covers the outside of the ma­terial found in the east moat of Hildesheim but also the enclosing rock. This armatura has a natural high luster and reflects an image like a window glass. When rubbed belemnites gives off an odor similar to that produced by polishing or burning the horn of an ox. The material found in the marbles of Hildesheim has this odor while that from other localities has no odor. It varies in size, the largest being three-quarters of an inch long as a rule although that found in the north moat of Hildesheim is six inches long and as thick as the arm. It always has the form of an arrow, a broad base which tapers to a very sharp point. It has a natural fissure and as a result is split with ease along the length. The variation in transparency is striking and it is sometimes covered with a golden arma-tvra on the inside. It may contain earth, sand or stone which is itself in the form of an acute cone. The rock that contains the material with the golden armatura occurs in beds that resemble certain membranes when first stretched and then more and more drawn together.31 Since it dries the physicians of Prussia and Pomerania use it to heal wounds while both they and the physicans of Saxony use it the same as lapis judaicus to re­move stones.
Just as belemnites contains earth, sand and stone, gaeodes (chalcedony geode) enclose earth, aetites (geode and concretion) stone and sand, and enhydros (enhydros) liquid. However these latter differ in form. All of them are commonly formed into a ball that resembles the earth. Some­times they are perfect, sometimes compressed. Pliny classifies some under aetites, certainly any that enclose earth, and describes others separately calling them gaeodes. Dioscorides distinguishes gaeodes from aetites since the former contains an earth, hence the name,32 the latter, stone. Actually they are closely related since they consist of the same material and like belemnites contain different things since they both originate in almost the same places. They occur in Hildesheim, Saxony; in the mountains of
31 Thin bedded calcareous shale.
32  From the Greek yij elSos, earthlike.
Book V about lodestone, hematite, geodes, hematite, selenite, lapis secularum, asbestos, mica Page of 251 Book V about lodestone, hematite, geodes, hematite, selenite, lapis secularum, asbestos, mica
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