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DEDICATION
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3
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Although
our veins and mines do not produce all varieties of minerals I have
attempted to discuss those minerals not found in Germany but in other
parts of Europe and certain parts of Asia and Africa. In the
discussion of these minerals learned men, traders and miners have been
of great assistance to me. As a rule, in connection with each mineral,
I shall mention the places where it has been found or is found today.
It is well known that certain regions produce famous earths, others
congealed juices, stones, gems, marbles and metals. Some of these
substances lack names as previous writers have not mentioned them and
it will be necessary that I give them new names. As a rule I will give
them Greek names as they cannot be named so aptly in Latin.
Most
Illustrious Prince. I dedicate these books to you, in part because of
the many favors you have bestowed upon me and for which I shall always
be grateful, in part because the greatness of your name and reputation
will give them added value. Actually your name adds greater honor to
these books than any which might come to you through this association.
If we consider birth, we see you having been born to that noble family
which is one of the oldest and greatest of all Germany, second only in
rank of nobility. If we consider favors of fortune, we see you
abounding in riches and great and lasting power. You are known to be
brave, strong of body, and with a stature becoming to the dignity of a
Prince. Your strength of character is shown by the deep understanding
with which you treat all people; by your manly courage and your burning
zeal. You have become famous and renowned because of these attributes,
praised by King Ferdinand and approved of, above all others, by The
Most Invincible Emperor Charles. Your kingdom abounds in metals and,
since we treat of metals in different sections of these books, it is
most appropriate that they be dedicated to you.
In
Misena silver, tin, copper, and iron are found; in Thuringia, near
Sangerhausen, copper. Moreover Misena is so rich in silver that I need
not mention any other metal to illustrate my point. Three hundred years
ago the veins of Freiberg alone yielded enough silver annually to
Prince Henry, who first annexed Thuringia to Misena, to purchase the
kingdom of Bohemia. It was during his reign that a great tree was made
from silver and set up near Northausen, Thuringia, not that anyone
might sit beneath it as Xerxes once sat beneath a golden tree, but that
its leaves, some of which were of gold and some of silver, could be
given to nobles of all ranks who might come there to compete in
tournaments. Golden leaves were given to those who unseated their
opponents, silver leaves to those whose matches were a tie. There were
no leaves for the unfortunate one who was unseated.
Garium,
Misena, has been an esteemed producer of silver for one hundred and
fifty years, Schneeberg for eighty-four years, Annaberg for forty-three
years, and Marienberg for sixteen years. In recent years mines in the
Joachimstal and Albertham valleys at the base of the Sudetes Mountains
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