ABSTRACT: De Re Metallica: Mining and Geology in the 16th Century

VEAL, STEVEN L., DCX Resources, Ltd., Denver, CO

A revered first text of basic mining geology and technology, De Re Metallica, served as a primary mining reference for nearly 200 years after its original publishing in 1556. Authored by Georgius Agricola, it was written as a hands-on multivolume guide for all steps in the mining trade. Books (or chapters) included (1) introduction to basic rock and ore types, (2) mine site and location, (3) recognition and orientation of veins and stringers, (4) legal aspects of mining, including permitting and dealing with local officials, (5) mining practices and surveying, (6) tools and the construction of necessary machinery, (7) methods of assaying, (8) methods of refining and smelting, and (9) specific forms of mineral separation. The worded text is supplemented by 289 highly precise woodcut pr nts to better illustrate Agricola's descriptions. The text was originally written in Latin and has been translated into various languages. The English was translated in 1912 by former president Herbert C. Hoover and his wife Lou.

De Re Metallica represents a reminder to all who practice geology that the science has an evolutionary past and enjoys a richly detailed history.

AAPG Search and Discovery Article #91012©1992 AAPG Annual Meeting, Calgary, Alberta, Canada, June 22-25, 1992 (2009)