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Book X lapis sabinicus, lapis selentinus, lapis liparaeus and other mixtures of stone, metal and earth

Book X lapis sabinicus, lapis selentinus, lapis liparaeus and other mixtures of stone, metal and earth Page of 251 Book X lapis sabinicus, lapis selentinus, lapis liparaeus and other mixtures of stone, metal and earth Text size:minus plus Restore normal size   Mail page  Print this page
212
DE NATURA FOSSILIUΜ
copper. The pyrite from Breitenbrunn, Misena, contains no metal. We can conclude that the older writers who have written of the large amounts of copper that were extracted from pyrite did not know what they were writing about.
One pyrite differs from another not only in the metal or metals it con­tains but also in color. One may be golden yellow, another silver-white. Each is mentioned frequently in the older writings; each is called mar-chasita by the Moors; each has the appearance of copper; and each is found in copper and silver mines as well as in the lead mine of Goslar. There are two varieties of golden-yellow pyrite. One has the color of pure gold and this the chemists call marchasita, the other is silvery gold. There are two varieties of the silver-white pyrite, one almost the color of galena, the other gray. The former is found at Reichenstein, Lygius, and contains silver and gold, the latter is found at this same mine but does not contain these metals.22
Pyrite has a variable density and weight. That which is denser and con­tains more metal is heavier. The hardness varies and some is hard, some soft and some intermediate. Fire is produced with ease from hard pyrite when it is struck with iron or a hard stone and for this reason the Romans, according to Pliny, called it "alive." It is difficult to strike fire from the moderately hard pyrite and the soft material gives no sparks.
The form of pyrite is more variable than that of any other natural mineral.23 That found in rivers and creeks is rounded or spherical. That found in clay veins is sometimes clyindrical with the appearance of having been polished. At Hanover pyrite that is oblong and hollow like a pipe is found in the ocher that fills joints in the calcareous rocks. Some pyrite is cubic such as that not uncommonly found in rivers and creeks and some resembles eggs. The latter produces atramentum sutorium and is related to it. In a mine between Hildesheim and the fortress of Steuren-wald and in the moat on the north side of the fortress pyrite is found with the form of shells and grapes. Commonly it occurs resembling masses of branches that are all joined. Masses resembling honeycomb are also found. Sometimes very thin sheets similar to sheets of gold, silver, and copper are found spread on stones and rocks. Sometimes entire veins consist of solid massive pyrite from whence very large masses are obtained Diphryges is made from pyrite, as I have said. As a medicament it dries and disperses gatherings and for that reason is used to cure hard and soft tumors.24
22  It would appear that Agricola recognized pyrite (silvery gold), chalcopyrite (pure gold color), marcasite (color of galena), and arsenopyrite (gray) aa different varieties and included them under pyrite. The soft pyrite might be chalcopyrite.
23 In light of present knowledge this would be said of calcite.
24 Agricola discusses pyrite at greater length in Bermannus, page 438. Bermannus. "Then you will not concede that copper is obtained from pyrite? Naevius. "Why not? Dioscorides states definitely that this is true.
Ancon. "Serapio writes that copper is smelted from marchasita. Perhaps marchasita is the same as pyrite. . . .
Book X lapis sabinicus, lapis selentinus, lapis liparaeus and other mixtures of stone, metal and earth Page of 251 Book X lapis sabinicus, lapis selentinus, lapis liparaeus and other mixtures of stone, metal and earth
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