Georgius Agricola Collection

Page CCCL from Vom Bergwerck XII Bücher by Agricola, plate 43 from Woodcuts...1937
Page CCCL from Vom Bergwerck XII Bucher by Agricola, plate 43 from Woodcuts from Books of the XVI Century, 1557, assembled into portfolio 1937

Georgius Agricola
LLM459541 Georgius Agricola by Planella Coromina, Josep or Jose (1804-90); Private Collection; (add.info.: Georgius Agricola)

Agricola directing the mines of Freyberg
LLM459544 Agricola directing the mines of Freyberg by Planella Coromina, Josep or Jose (1804-90); Private Collection; (add.info.: Agricola directing the mines of Freyberg)

Georgius Agricola. From: La ciencia y sus hombres, 1879. Private Collection

Illustration from De re metallica libri XII by Georgius Agricola, 1556. Artist: Anonymous
Illustration from De re metallica libri XII by Georgius Agricola, 1556. Private Collection

A Silver Refinery, 1556, (1917)
A Silver Refinery, 1556. From De re metallica by Georg Bauer (1494-1555) (Latinized: Georgius Agricola), is a book cataloguing the art of mining, refining, and smelting metals, published in 1556

Prospecting for metals, 1556 (1956). From Georgius Agricolas De re Metallica. A print from Things, a volume about the origin and early history of many things, common and less common

Making and using elm tree pumps to drain mines before the days of the steam engine, 1556 (1956). From De re Metallica by Georgius Agricola

Producing salt by evaporating natural brine by pouring it into a pit of burning charcoal, 1556. A rather impure product resulted. From De re metallica by Agricola (Georg Bauer). (Basel, 1556)

Georgius Agricola, 16th century German physician, mineralogist and metallurgist. Agricola (christened Georg Bauer) (1494-1555) was the author of De re metallica

Smelting of ores (gold, silver, copper and lead), 1556. A workman beats clay to make lute to line a furnace. On the floor are various tools needed during the smelting process

Lead smelting, 1556. From De re metallica by Agricola (Georg Bauer). (Basel, 1556)

Separating lead from silver or gold in a cupellation furnace, 1556. The Foreman consumed quantities of butter to avoid being poisoned (to prevent absorption of lead in the stomach)

Blast furnace for smelting iron ore, 1556. From De re Metallica by Georgius Agricola. Basel, 1556)

Stamp for breaking copper cupellation cakes for further refining, 1556. Powered by a water wheel through a drive shaft. From De re metallica by Georgius Agricola. (Basel, 1556)

Stamping and roasting ore to extract metal, 1556. This technique was used to extract lead, copper, silver and gold. The mill is powered by a water wheel

Sectional view of a German mine, 1556
Sectional view of a German mine showing the method of sinking shafts and driving horizontal galleries, 1556. A windlass is used to raise and lower men, materials and spoil

Draining a mine using a series of suction pumps powered by a water wheel, 1556. From De re metallica by Georgius Agricola. (Basel, 1556)

The Argonauts finding the Golden Fleece, 1556
The Argonauts finding the Golden Fleece, a fleece placed in a spring by the Colchians to collect alluvial gold dust, 1556

Bellows supplying draught to a smelting furnace, 1556. The bellows are operated by a camshaft powered by a water wheel (just visible at extreme right)

Sectional view of a mine showing shafts and galleries, 1556. At the surface of each shaft is a winch or windlass for raising and lowering loads

Smelting iron and hammering bars with a mechanical hammer, 1556. From De re metallica by Georgius Agricola. (Basel, 1556)

Refining copper: removing cakes of copper from the crucible and quenching in a tub of water, 1556. From De re metallica by Georgius Agricola. (Basel, 1556)

Reversible hoist for raising leather buckets from a mine shaft, 1556
Reversible hoist for raising leather buckets from a mine shaft powered by an overshot water wheel, 1556. A man in a hut at O opens and shuts water races to stop and start a double row of buckets

Crushing gold bearing ores in mills similar in principle to flour mills, 1556. At bottom left goats in a treadmill produce horizontal power which is transferred to a mill (A)

Washing for tin, 1556. After digging out a substantial amount, miners would alter the course of the stream, washing away light material and leaving tin-bearing ore

Steel production: a forge with bellows to produce draught, 1556. In the foreground bars are being hammered with a mechanical hammer

A mine being drained by a rag-and-chain pump powered by an overshot water wheel, 1556. At the right of the image is a detail of section of pipe K. From De re metallica by Georgius Agricola

Georgius Agricola (1494-1555), German physician, mineralogist and metallurgist, 1881. Agricola (christened Georg Bauer) was the author of De re metallica (Basel, 1555)

Pump powered by men in a treadmill, 1556. Woodcut showing a rag-and-chain pump for draining a mine, powered by men walking a treadmill

Roasting copper ore in a furnace at C, 1556.. A are cakes of smelted copper, B wooden faggots for heating the furnace. On right a man is using wooden wheelbarrow. From De re metallica by Agricola

Georgius Agricola, German mineralogist
Georgius Agricola (1494-1555), German mineralogist. Georgius Agricola is the latinised version of his given name, Georg Bauer. Agricola worked as a doctor in a number of mining towns in Saxony

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Georgius Agricola, a 16th-century German physician, mineralogist, and metallurgist, was an influential figure in the field of mining and metal extraction. Known for his work in directing the mines of Freyberg, Agricola's contributions to the industry are still celebrated today. In his renowned book "De re metallica libri XII, " published in 1556 with illustrations by an anonymous artist, Agricola delved into various aspects of mining and refining techniques. One such illustration depicts a silver refinery from that era. This visual representation gives us a glimpse into the intricate processes involved in extracting precious metals. Agricola's expertise extended beyond just silver refining; he also explored prospecting for metals using traditional methods. In another captivating illustration from his book, we see miners diligently searching for valuable ores amidst rugged landscapes. These images transport us back to a time when technology was limited but determination prevailed. Before steam engines revolutionized mining operations, Agricola devised innovative solutions like elm tree pumps to drain mines effectively. The image showcasing this technique highlights his ingenuity and resourcefulness during an era devoid of modern machinery. Another fascinating aspect of Agricola's work was salt production through evaporating natural brine using burning charcoal pits. This method is depicted vividly in one of the illustrations from his book, shedding light on ancient practices that were essential for everyday life. Agricola's legacy lies not only in these detailed illustrations but also in advancing smelting techniques for gold, silver, copper, lead ores during that period. His meticulous studies led to significant advancements in separating lead from precious metals like silver or gold using cupellation furnaces. Georgius Agricola left an indelible mark on the world of mining and metallurgy through his extensive research and practical applications. His dedication to understanding these industries paved the way for future innovations while preserving historical knowledge about ancient mining practices.