Metallographia, or, A history of metals wherein is declared the signs of ores and minerals both before and after digging ... : as also, the handling and shewing of their vegetability ... : gathered forth of the most approved authors that have written in Greek, Latine, or High-Dutch ... / by John Webster ...

CHAP. VII. Of those Minerals that are said to be of affinity to Metals, as those they call Cachimiae, Marchasites, Pyritae, or Fire-stones.

WE shall speak something of these, because the difference, and divers kinds of them are little known or regarded by our common Miners, because they can make no profit of them, nor other use, except as signs to discover where metalline Ores are. And what is convenient to our purpose we shall give you, what we account material forth of some choice Au∣thors, and also what we have noted and observed our selves.

1. And first of those they call Cachimiae or Kakimiea, for it is printed both ways; but whether the word be Arabick (as most judge) I being not at all skilled in that language, or of some other tongue, I cannot cer∣tainly determine. For I find nothing either written by Toxites, Rulandus, or our Countryman Iohnson, but what they seem to have taken forth of Paracelsus, but have either grosly mistaken, o•• wilfully perverted the sense of that learned and experienced Author; for they make a Kachimia to be Immatura metalli mine∣ra,* 1.1 vel semiperfectum metallum, & nondum à natura absolutum, quod adhuc in primo suo ente, ut infans in utero suae matris delitescit. Ejusmodi Kachimiarum species triginta reperiuntur hactenus cogni••ae. It is the immature Ore of a Metal, or an half perfect Metal, and not yet compleated of Nature; which as yet lieth

hid in its first being, as an Infant in the womb of the mother. And that there are thirty sorts of these Ka∣chimies found that are known. This is indeed the description of his primum ens of Metals, or of the vo∣latile spirit of Metals, whilest it lies hid in Kachimies, Marchasites, and the like, as a child in the womb of the Mother, but not of a Kachimy, as we shall shew hereafter. And he doth not say that there are thirty sorts of them, but that of Marchasites and Kachimies there are about thirty sorts comprehended under those two names, not under the one of them. But his de∣scription is thus, both of a Marchasite and a Kachimie; for speaking of Marchasites,* 1.2 he saith;

Nihil autem sunt aliud, quam superfluitas metallorum, hoc est ma∣teria, in metallis abundans, quam metalla intra se fer∣re, ac continere, aut in suam formam vertere neque∣unt. But Marchasites are no other thing then the superfluity of Metals; that is to say, a matter aboun∣ding in Metals, which the Metals cannot bear, or contain within themselves, or change into their own form.

And that a Kachimy is of the same sort, to wit, bred of the superfluity of the Metals, he thus declareth:

Sic ergo Marchasita nihil est aliud, quam superfluitas abundans in prima materia metallorum in Ares, quae per Archaeum separatur in Yliadum, unde postea Mar∣chasitae, & Kachimiae generantur triginta circiter ge∣nerum & formarum, quae tamen omnia duobus istis no∣minibus comprehenduntur. Quod vero illae multipli∣ces sunt, nec unius formae, licet ab una materia descen∣dant, causa est haec, quia scilicet inaequaliter concurrit trium primorum pondus, uno altero abundantius sese conferente.* 1.3 Hinc formas enasci varias necesse est. So therefore a Marchasite is nothing else, then the

superfluity abounding in the first matter of Metals in the Ares, which is separated by the Archaeus into the Yliad; from whence afterwards Marchasites and Cachimies are generated about thirty of divers sorts and forms; which notwithstanding are all compre∣hended under these two names. But, that they are manifold, and not of one form, although they de∣scend from one matter, the cause is this, because the weight of the three first principles do meet together unequally, one bestowing it self more abundantly then another. From hence of necessity divers forms do arise.

From hence it is plain that Cachimies and Marchasites are bred and generated of the same matter; to wit, the superfluity of the Metals; and are both about thirty in number, of divers forms and colours.* 1.4 And for the difference betwixt them he makes it this:

Est autem Cachimia fixior, & constantior Marcasita, propter sal fixum ex quo constat. But a Cachimy is more fixed and constant then a Marchasite, because of the fixed salt, of which it con∣sists.

Again, he enumerateth eight sorts of Cachimies that were known unto him; to wit, Marchasitae Mer∣chasites, Pyrites Fire-stones, Antimonia Antimony, Cobalta Cobalts, Talka Talks, Auripigmenta Auri∣pigments, Sulphura Sulphurs, Arsenicalia Arsnicks. Now it seems he maketh both Cachimies and Mar∣chasites to be the superfluity of Metals, onely that a Cachimy is more fixed then a Marchasite; and so see∣meth to make Cachimia the Genus to the other eight, and then every Marchasite is a Cachimy, but not on the contrary; but how this should stand with the rules of Logick, I understand not; nor that Antimony is a

Cachimie, being in some respects a Metal, or at the least a semi-metal. But it was usual with this Author not onely to neglect, but to despise the Art of Logick; and if he did but certainly know the several sorts of Minerals, and their nature and properties, he little re∣garded the ordering of them according to those strict rules. Therefore I should commend this particular to be seriously considered of, and due observation to be made thereof, that what is defective may be sup∣plied, and what is amiss may be rectified.

* 1.52. As for Marchasites and Pyritae Fire-stones, Para∣celsus makes them to differ; and so Wormius seems to do, shewing that some of them may better be re∣ferred to the sorts of Metallick bodies, then meerly to the kinds of stones. But others make them both one, as Agricola, Caesalpinus, Eucelius, and most of the rest. And some think them called so, by reason of yielding forth sparks of fire; and some because of their shi∣ning and fiery colour. We may take them under these considerations. 1. Those that have the splen∣dour and colour of Metal, and also contain some Metals in them. 2. Those that have the splendour and colour of Metals, and contain no Metal in them. 3. Those that yield fire by striking, and those that yield none.

1. Those Marchasites or Fire-stones that contain Metal in them, are in general of divers sorts, and co∣lours. Agricola reckons these,* 1.6 that at Reithestein in Lygiis (that is within Germany) there were found those that yielded silver and gold; and at Cotteberg in Bo∣hemia those that yielded copper and silver, and those that yielded lead and tin, copper and silver at Goselac in Saxony; onely copper in those that are found

at Cuperberg in Bohemia, and in many other places: But that of Breitebren in Misnia, none at all; which is also confirmed by Wormius.* 1.7 Rulandus doth num∣ber six sorts that yield Metal of one sort or another, that are very ponderous and yield sparks of fire. 1. One of a silver colour, that yields silver. 2. One other of almost a golden colour, forth of which cop∣per is melted. 3. One of a full golden colour. 4. One like the Ore of silver or Galena, that like the former, holds silver, and some gold. 5. One of an ash-colour that holdeth gold and silver. 6. One of of an Iron-like colour, but what it holds he telleth not.

2. He reckons four of a silver colour, that hold no metal, nor yield any fire: and six others of a golden colour, that have no Metal in them: And other five of a golden colour, that hold no metal, nor yield fire: And ten more of an ash-colour, that hold no metal in them, nor yield fire.

3. He nameth four of other colours, forth of which fire is smitten; and so of divers others that do yield fire, and those that do not yield fire: and numbreth ten several sorts that are fertile of Metal; to which I do refer the Reader.

They also seem to attribute to every one of the six Metals its proper Marchasite, but have not been so free to tell us which were they, nor what they in this sense meant by a Marchasite.* 1.8 For Basilius saith; For what is the Marchasite of Iron? Is it not the Magnet? what is it of gold? is it not Lazul? and so forth of the rest. And Antimony that they call the Marchasite of Lead, but for the other three, we are at a loss, except we can make it forth from some passages in Paracelsus,* 1.9 where

he seemeth to grant thus much, that the primum ens, or spirit of silver is in a white Marchasite, white Talk, &c. In Zink and Cobalt the spirit of Iron, of Cop∣per in Zink, Vitriol, &c. In Zink or Bismuth, &c. the spirit of Tin, and in Cinnabar the first ens of Quick-silver. But this makes but a slender conjecture; for if every matter, as Stones, Clays, Earths, Juices, Cauk, Sparr, Marble, Plaster Ore, or Quarry, in which the Metals are commonly contained and min∣gled, be Marchasites, then the Ore of every Metal is its proper Marchasite. But we may as roundly say, that the Lapis Lazuli is the Marchasite of Gold; of Silver, Talk or Galena; of Lead, Antimony; of Tin, Bismuth; of Copper, Zink; of Iron, the Load-stone; of Quick-silver, Cinnabar. But of this enough.

Now I shall say something of Marchasites or Pyritae, of mine own experience. We have in our Coal-pits in these Northern parts great store of the said Marcha∣sites, some of which are of a very bright shining gol∣den colour, and some of them of a pure bright silver splendor, and some of them so curiously intermixed with diversity of colours, that are very delightful to the Eyes; these are something soft and will not strike fire, but being laid in a cold and moist place, will dis∣solve; and then any one may perceive that they hold store of Vitriol; but being fired in a melting pot, do yield store of fumes that smell strongly of Sulphur, by which we may be assured that they contain both Brimstone and Copperas. There are also other sorts found, that are some of them bright, and of a metal∣line colour, and far more hard then the former, which by striking will yield sparks of fire.

Also I have divers sorts of them that are very

smooth and shining, as bright as Flanders metal, Ori∣chalcum or Brass, which is found in the Quarries of Stone, Slate-pits, or where they get flooring-stones for paving of houses, in the clifts betwixt the Stones, but contain no Metal in them, but being fired do smell strongly of Brimstone. Some few I have had that held some little Copper in them, of an hard substance, and not very bright but ponderous; but I have found none that held any Silver, Gold, or any other Metal in them. Many other sorts I have of divers and sundry colours, some of a golden, some of a silver-like, and some of a copper-like, or brass-like colour; some of them found near the Lead Ore, and some of them in their proper Mines, some of them in confused lumps, or interspersed in Stones, Cauk, or Sparr; some tri∣angular, some of them quadrangular, like to the Ludus of Paracelsus or Helmont; some sexangular, and some of them of other figures; but all of them sulphureous, and to be fired away to nothing, but an unprofitable black Earth. One sort there is found in some of our Lead Mines near the Ore, that is ponde∣rous, black, and glissening; but by several trials I could find no Metal in it, neither any great store of sulphureous fumes; and it is not that which the Ger∣mans call Blend, and our Miners blue Blind ake; because that is brighter, more shining, and liker a metallick body. I therefore intreat all Miners to inquire of these particulars.

• 1. What sorts of Fire stones or Marchasites they find, and near what sorts of Metals.
• 2. Of what colours, forms, and figures, that they may get them tried, to see what sort of Metals they contain; or if they hold Vitriol, Sulphur, Alom, Salt, or any other sort of Mineral.
• ...

• 3. To make exact observation what difference there is to be found amongst them, either as to colour, shape, taste, smell, or any other qualities that appear in them, and if possibly their number.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Tox Onom. 2. p 447. Ru and. Lex. Alchym. p 270. Johnson Lex. Chym. p. 117.
• * 1.2

  Lib de Elem. Aq. Tract. 3. de Miner. p. 280, 281.
• * 1.3

  Vid. Schrod. Pharm. l. 3. num. 5. p. 124.
• * 1.4

  Ibid. p. 28••
• * 1.5

  Mus. Worm. l. 1. Sect. 2. c. 3. p. 39.

  De nat. Foss. l. 10. p. 658. De metal. l. 2. c. 54. p. 148. De re metal. l. 1. c. 14. p. 25.
• * 1.6

  Agric. de natur. Fossil. l. 10. p. 658.
• * 1.7

  Mus Worm. l. 1. Sect. 2. c. 3. p. 134. Lex Alchym. p. 394, 395, 396, &c.
• * 1.8

  Last Will and Test. c. 24. p 49.
• * 1.9

  Rer. nat. l. 8. p. 104.