Archive image from page 308 of De re metallica (1950). De re metallica deremetallica50agri Year: 1950 BOOK VIII. 271 lumps of ore, rich in gold or silver, are put by the sorters on the stone and broken up witii a broad, but not thick, hammer ; they either break them into pieces and throw thrm into one vessel, or they break and sort—whence they get their name—the more precious from the worthless, throwing and collecting them separatily into different vessels. Other men crush the lumps of ore less rich in gold or silver, which have likewise been put on the stone, with a broad thick hammer, and


Archive image from page 308 of De re metallica (1950). De re metallica deremetallica50agri Year: 1950 BOOK VIII. 271 lumps of ore, rich in gold or silver, are put by the sorters on the stone and broken up witii a broad, but not thick, hammer ; they either break them into pieces and throw thrm into one vessel, or they break and sort—whence they get their name—the more precious from the worthless, throwing and collecting them separatily into different vessels. Other men crush the lumps of ore less rich in gold or silver, which have likewise been put on the stone, with a broad thick hammer, and when it has been well crushed, they collect it and throw it hito one vessel. There are two kinds of vessels ; one is deeper, and a little wider in the centre than at the top or bottom ; the other is not so deep though it is broader at the bottom, and becomes gradually a little narrower toward the top. The latter vessel is covered with a lid, while the former is not covered ; an iron rod through the handles, bent over on either end, is grasped in the hand when the vessel is carried. But, above all, it behooves the sorters to be assiduous in their labours. By another method of breaking ore with hammers, large hard frag- ments of ore are broken before they are burned. The legs of the workmen —at all events of those who crush pyrites in this manner with large hammers in Goslar—are protected with coverings resembling leggings, and their hands A—Pyrites. B—Leggings. C—Gloves. D—Hammer.


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