The Fascinating Tools and Techniques of 16th Century Mining

Описание: #gold #mining #goldprospecting

Today we’re going to take a look back in time using one of my favourite books – De Re Metallica – and discover the fascinating mining methods and techniques of the 16th century!

After its publication in 1556, De Re Metallica was considered the authoritative text on the art of mining, refining and smelting metals for almost 200 years.

Written by German scholar Georg Bauer, (whose pen name was Georgius Agricola), and published a year posthumously, the text is comprised of twelve books which extensively cover the many different aspects, tools and techniques of 16th century mining.

De Re Metallica provides us with a wealth of insight into the mining industry during the renaissance as well as the culture, legalities, architecture and costume of the time. This remarkable book contains a huge collection of brilliantly detailed illustrations and technical diagrams, all of enormous historical value.

We're going to take a look through some of these incredible illustrations, and you will note that there are many remarkable similarities between these old machines and devices, and those which were used a comparitively short time ago during the Victorian gold rush.

I hope you enjoy this collection of images as much as I do!

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First edition of De Re Metallica by Georgius Agricola, 1556. Image source: Milestones of Science Books.