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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
222
DE NATURA FOSSILIUM
of argentiferous, three species of plumbiferous, cupriferous, or ferruginous stone. The Greeks are seen to have called these earths containing a mixed substance by the same names as the above mentioned metallic earths. I shall consider these substances briefly and mention only the argentiferous varieties. An earth may contain mixed silver minerals that are either lead-colored, red, white, black, gray, liver-colored, purple, or yellow. I should mention that an earth may contain such mixed substances as galena, pyrite, or cadmia of the fourth genus. The combinations may vary since the particles may be the size of walnuts, beans, peas, algaroba seeds, or even so small that no metallic substance is left when the earth is panned. Miners distinguish earths that contain mixed substances by color.
Sometimes particles of species of the sixth genus are contained in an earth or adhere to it. If the earth contains sulphurous or atramentous pyrite, atramentous cadmia, or some other species, it will, of course, change the composition. Particles of species of all six mixed genera may adhere to or be enclosed in a congealed juice, stone, or metal. Compounds that contain more mixed than simple substances are different. These in­clude species of the six mixed genera that enclose or have adhering to them particles of earth, congealed juice, stone, or metal.
There remain the compound substances containing three substances. These may be three simple, three mixed, one simple and two mixed, or two simple and one mixed substance. Furthermore, compound substances may contain four, five, and even as many as ten natural substances and these give rise to great numbers of species.
The philosopher takes pleasure in the contemplation of the nature of these compounds while the miner takes pleasure in the profit and use he obtains from the metals he extracts from them.
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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