| Georg Agricola: The Father of Mineralogy |
| "I have omitted all those things which I have not myself seen, or have not read or heard of from persons upon whom I can rely. That which I have neither seen, nor carefully considered after reading or hearing of, I have not written about. The same rule must be understood with regard to all my instruction, whether I enjoin things which ought to be done, or describe things which are usual, or condemn things which are done." Agricola, 1556 |
In Italy he befriended the great scholar Erasmus. Upon returning to Zwickau in 1527, he was
appointed town physician at Joachimsthal, a center of mining and smelting works, where he began
intensive studies about mineralogy by careful observation of ores and the methods of their treatment
which he then constructed into a logical system which he began to publish in 1528.
appointed town physician at Joachimsthal, a center of mining and smelting works, where he began
intensive studies about mineralogy by careful observation of ores and the methods of their treatment
which he then constructed into a logical system which he began to publish in 1528.
His most famous work, De re metallica libri xii, 1556, is a systematic treatise on mining and
metallurgy, illustrated with many fine and interesting woodcuts. In an appendix, he put German
equivalents for the technical terms used in the Latin text (Agricola wrote in Latin even though it was
a quickly dying language). Aside from his job as a diplomat, Agricola was not very politically minded,
although in 1529, he gave a very popular and widely distributed "Turkish Speech" calling for an end
to political and religious friction and urging the Holy Roman emperor Ferdinand I to undertake a war
against the Turks as a patriotic measure.
metallurgy, illustrated with many fine and interesting woodcuts. In an appendix, he put German
equivalents for the technical terms used in the Latin text (Agricola wrote in Latin even though it was
a quickly dying language). Aside from his job as a diplomat, Agricola was not very politically minded,
although in 1529, he gave a very popular and widely distributed "Turkish Speech" calling for an end
to political and religious friction and urging the Holy Roman emperor Ferdinand I to undertake a war
against the Turks as a patriotic measure.
It is said he died by a stroke brought on by a heated argument with a Protestant at Chemnitz on
November 21, 1555. De Re Metallica was unequalled for two centuries. 1n 1912, the exceedingly
difficult task of creating an English translation was accomplished by American mining engineer,
Herbert Hoover, the former President of the United States, and his wife Lou Henry Hoover. It is
interesting that Hoover's family name was originally Huber, and he was of German ancestry. Hoover
stated that Agricola was "the first to found any of the natural sciences upon research and observation,
as opposed to previous fruitless speculation."
November 21, 1555. De Re Metallica was unequalled for two centuries. 1n 1912, the exceedingly
difficult task of creating an English translation was accomplished by American mining engineer,
Herbert Hoover, the former President of the United States, and his wife Lou Henry Hoover. It is
interesting that Hoover's family name was originally Huber, and he was of German ancestry. Hoover
stated that Agricola was "the first to found any of the natural sciences upon research and observation,
as opposed to previous fruitless speculation."
Georg Agricola, born George Bauer at Glauchau, was a contemporary of ethnic German Copernicus
and fellow Saxon Martin Luther. He is regarded as the father of mineralogy.
and fellow Saxon Martin Luther. He is regarded as the father of mineralogy.
Agricola's dialogue Bermannus, sive de re metallica dialogus was the first scientific writing of its kind
and brought Agricola recognition. Partly in the hope of finding new drugs among the local ores and
minerals, he visited mines and smelting plants, talked to the better educated miners, and read classical
authors on mining. Bermannus was based upon information obtained from conversations with the
"learned miner" Lorenz Berman during his time at Joachimsthal.
and brought Agricola recognition. Partly in the hope of finding new drugs among the local ores and
minerals, he visited mines and smelting plants, talked to the better educated miners, and read classical
authors on mining. Bermannus was based upon information obtained from conversations with the
"learned miner" Lorenz Berman during his time at Joachimsthal.
In 1533, he went to the center of the mining industry in Chemnitz as town physician and published a
book about Greek and Roman weights and measures. He was soon elected burgmeister. However,
Agricola was a staunch Catholic and Chemnitz was a hotbed of the new Protestant movement, and
he was forced to resign. He authored a historical work in 1544 and then laid the first foundations of a
physical geology criticizing the theories of the ancients in De ortu et causis subterraneorum. In 1545,
1546 and 1548, he published important studies about the discovery and occurrence of minerals.
book about Greek and Roman weights and measures. He was soon elected burgmeister. However,
Agricola was a staunch Catholic and Chemnitz was a hotbed of the new Protestant movement, and
he was forced to resign. He authored a historical work in 1544 and then laid the first foundations of a
physical geology criticizing the theories of the ancients in De ortu et causis subterraneorum. In 1545,
1546 and 1548, he published important studies about the discovery and occurrence of minerals.
Agricola observed that rocks were in strata of a consistent order, and that these layers could be
traced over a wide area. This was one of the first contributions to stratigraphic geology and in
understanding the arrangement and origins of the rocks of the Earth. Unlike previous writings on
rocks and minerals, Agricola classified them not alphabetically or by their mystical powers, but by
simple physical properties. He gave standardized names to various minerals, recorded their
appearance and the localities where they could be found. He also noted fossils might vary in color
and appearances in different locations. Agricola's geological writings reflect an immense amount of
study and first-hand observation, not just of rocks and minerals, but of every aspect of mining
technology and practice of the time.
traced over a wide area. This was one of the first contributions to stratigraphic geology and in
understanding the arrangement and origins of the rocks of the Earth. Unlike previous writings on
rocks and minerals, Agricola classified them not alphabetically or by their mystical powers, but by
simple physical properties. He gave standardized names to various minerals, recorded their
appearance and the localities where they could be found. He also noted fossils might vary in color
and appearances in different locations. Agricola's geological writings reflect an immense amount of
study and first-hand observation, not just of rocks and minerals, but of every aspect of mining
technology and practice of the time.
Agricola's greatest work, De Re Metallica, carefully depicted and described all facets of mining from
ores to mining machinery. Intellectually gifted, he was appointed Rector extraordinarius of Greek at
the Great School of Zwickau by age twenty and began philosophic writing. Soon, he went to Leipzig
as rector and began to study medicine, physics and chemistry. From 1524 to 1526, he travelled to
Italy where he took his doctor's degree. He studied medicine, natural science, and philosophy in
Bologna and Padua, then clinical studies in Venice.
ores to mining machinery. Intellectually gifted, he was appointed Rector extraordinarius of Greek at
the Great School of Zwickau by age twenty and began philosophic writing. Soon, he went to Leipzig
as rector and began to study medicine, physics and chemistry. From 1524 to 1526, he travelled to
Italy where he took his doctor's degree. He studied medicine, natural science, and philosophy in
Bologna and Padua, then clinical studies in Venice.