Chapter 1

The Project Gutenberg eBook of De Re Metallica, Translated from the First Latin Edition of 1556 This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere in the United States and most other parts of the world at no cost and with almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org. If you are not located in the United States, you will have to check the laws of the country where you are located before using this eBook. Title: De Re Metallica, Translated from the First Latin Edition of 1556 Author: Georg Agricola Translator: Herbert Hoover Lou Henry Hoover Release date: November 14, 2011 [eBook #38015] Most recently updated: January 8, 2021 Language: English Other information and formats: www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/38015 Credits: Produced by Malcolm Farmer, Stephen H. Sentoff and the Online Distributed Proofreading Team at https://www.pgdp.net *** START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK DE RE METALLICA, TRANSLATED FROM THE FIRST LATIN EDITION OF 1556 *** Produced by Malcolm Farmer, Stephen H. Sentoff and the Online Distributed Proofreading Team at https://www.pgdp.net GEORGIUS AGRICOLA DE RE METALLICA TRANSLATED FROM THE FIRST LATIN EDITION OF 1556 with Biographical Introduction, Annotations and Appendices upon the Development of Mining Methods, Metallurgical Processes, Geology, Mineralogy & Mining Law from the earliest times to the 16th Century BY HERBERT CLARK HOOVER A. B. Stanford University, Member American Institute of Mining Engineers, Mining and Metallurgical Society of America, Societe des Ingenieurs Civils de France, American Institute of Civil Engineers, Fellow Royal Geographical Society, etc., etc. AND LOU HENRY HOOVER A. B. Stanford University, Member American Association for the Advancement of Science, The National Geographical Society, Royal Scottish Geographical Society, etc., etc. 1950 _Dover Publications, Inc._ NEW YORK TO JOHN CASPAR BRANNER Ph.D., _The inspiration of whose teaching is no less great than his contribution to science._ This New 1950 Edition of DE RE METALLICA is a complete and unchanged reprint of the translation published by The Mining Magazine, London, in