De re metallica (
Latin for
On the Nature of Metals (Minerals)) is a book cataloguing the state of the art of
mining,
refining, and
smelting metals, published in 1556. The author was
Georg Bauer, whose pen name was the Latinized
Georgius Agricola. The book remained the authoritative text on mining for 180 years after its publication.
Agricola had spent nine years in the
Bohemian town of
Joachimsthal, now in the
Czech Republic. (
Joachimsthal is famous for its silver mines and the origin of the word "
Thaler" and, ultimately, "
dollar.") After Joachimsthal, he spent the rest of his life in
Chemnitz, a prominent mining town in
Saxony. Both Joachimsthal and Chemnitz are in the
Erzgebirge, or
Ore Mountains.
Summary
The book consists of a preface and twelve chapters, labelled books I to XII, without titles. It also has numerous woodcuts that provide annotated diagrams illustrating equipment and processes described in the text.
Preface
Agricola addresses the book to prominent German aristocrats, the most important of whom were
Maurice, Elector of Saxony and his brother Augustus, who were his main patrons. He then describes the works of ancient and contemporary writers on mining and metallurgy, the chief ancient source being
Pliny the Elder. Agricola describes several books contemporary to him, the chief being a booklet by Calbus of Freiberg in German. The works of alchemists are then described. Agricola does not reject the idea of alchemy, but notes that...
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