BİRİNCİ FEN · ÜÇÜNCÜ BÂB · ONUNCU FASIL · İkinci Madde
The Second Article
Concerning the states of metals, which are the first of the three composite bodies (mawālīd-i selāse), it details them with particulars and summarizes their varieties.
O esteemed one! Know that philosophers have said: The metals, which are the beginning of these three composite bodies, originate entirely from vapors and fumes trapped within the earth, having been produced through numerous mixtures differing in quantity and quality. If a metal’s mixture is strong and accepts hammering, it becomes one of the seven known substances: gold (zeheb), silver (fidda), copper (nühâs), tin (rasās), iron lead (esrab) and brass. And if a metal's mixture is strong but does not accept hammering, it becomes a stone-like substance: diamond, (l’al), ruby, emerald, zabergand (green ornamental stone), seylan and turquoise. And if the vapor overcomes the fume, transparent gems such as jade, marble, crystal and mercury are formed. If the fume overcomes the vapor, salts, alum (zāc), sulfur (kibrît), niter, pitch and similar stones arise. Some stones dissolve under the influence of moisture, as with salty substances. Others dissolve with fire; like alum (zāc) and sulfur. And if its composition is soft, it becomes mercury.
The origins of all metals undergo a process of formation within the earth for a time, after which their products (furū’) descend into the depths of the earth over the passage of centuries. Just as the roots of all trees and plants form beneath the ground and establish themselves there, their branches and other parts emerge to the surface of the earth over the course of long years. The emergence of the aforementioned seven substances occurs as a result of differing quantities and qualities of mercury and sulfur mixing in different proportions. The formation of mercury occurs when those minute water particles mix with the subtle particles of earth and are exposed to high heat. Sulfur is formed by the mixture of water and earth particles at high temperatures, becoming oily due to the heat of the process. The emergence of transparent and solid substances occurs through the influence of sweet waters. Sweet water remains within the stones among the metals for thousands of years, purifying itself, and transforming into stone with the heat of the metal. The formation of non-transparent substances occurs from the mixture of adhesive mud and water, which has been subjected to the heat of the sun for thousands of years. The emergence of substances that decompose with moisture is realized through the violent mixing of water with the burning (muḥtariq) and dry (yābis) bodies of the earth.
The formation of oily substances occurs from the moistures lying within the earth. When they refine and dissolve with the heat of the metal, they mix with the region’s soil, and are then baked again by the heat of the metal, becoming a thick oil. Thus, gold is formed in mountains, in places that are soft-stoned and sandy. Silver and its like arise within stones mixed with soft earth deep within the mountains. Sulfur mines form in wet, moist, oily places and soft soils. Salt mines form in hot lands and salty terrains. Limestone (cass) forms in soft and warm places. Top-stone (isfīdāc) [555] forms in sandy places mixed with limestone. Alum (zāc) and pitch mines form in arid and hard terrains. According to this comparison, it is seen that each metal belongs to a specific region; it is known that its formation originates from the earth’s characteristic qualities.
The varieties of metals are numerous; they have been divided into three main categories: The first category: Solid substances. The second category: Trees [Mines composed of trees]. The third category: Oily minerals.