De re metallica

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three methods of ventilating a mine, 1556

Agricola, Georgius: De re metallica

Agricola, Georgius: De re metallica

De re metallica

work by Agricola

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June 25, 2026

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three methods of ventilating a mine, 1556 — three methods of ventilating a mine, 1556 Three methods of ventilating a mine, woodcut from De re metallica by Georgius Agricola, published 1556.

De re metallica is a seminal work by Georgius Agricola, often called the "father of mineralogy." Published posthumously in 1556, it is a comprehensive treatise on the arts of mining and smelting. Agricola, a scholar and scientist, based his work on direct observation rather than ancient theories.

The book details the geology of ore bodies, surveying, mine construction, pumping, and ventilation, as well as the application of waterpower. It also covers the assaying of ores, methods for enriching them before smelting, and procedures for smelting and refining various metals. Agricola's meticulous descriptions and scientific approach made De re metallica a foundational text in metallurgy and mineralogy for centuries.12

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occupational disease
The preindustrial era
In his De Re Metallica, published posthumously in 1556, Agricola described the primitive methods of ventilation and personal protection in use, common mining accidents and disasters, and such miners’ occupational diseases as the “difficulty in breathing and destruction of the lungs” caused by the harmful effects of…
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In his De Re Metallica, published posthumously in 1556, Agricola described the primitive methods of ventilation and personal protection in use, common mining accidents and disasters, and such miners’ occupational diseases as the “difficulty in breathing and destruction of the lungs” caused by the harmful effects of…
Read More

Georgius Agricola
Chief works
…Bermannus was a prelude, was De re metallica, published posthumously in 1556. In it, among other things, Agricola surveys historical and Classical allusions to metals and assesses the content and distribution of metal mines in antiquity. He treats the pattern of ownership and the system of law governing Saxon mines,…
Read More
…Bermannus was a prelude, was De re metallica, published posthumously in 1556. In it, among other things, Agricola surveys historical and Classical allusions to metals and assesses the content and distribution of metal mines in antiquity. He treats the pattern of ownership and the system of law governing Saxon mines,…
Read More

metallurgy
After 1500
…German Georgius Agricola, was entitled De re metallica. Biringuccio was essentially a metalworker, and his book dealt with smelting, refining, and assay methods (methods for determining the metal content of ores) and covered metal casting, molding, core making, and the production of such commodities as cannons and cast-iron cannonballs. His…
Read More
…German Georgius Agricola, was entitled De re metallica. Biringuccio was essentially a metalworker, and his book dealt with smelting, refining, and assay methods (methods for determining the metal content of ores) and covered metal casting, molding, core making, and the production of such commodities as cannons and cast-iron cannonballs. His…
Read More

history of the organization of work
Advances in technology
…German scientist Georgius Agricola in De re metallica (1556), the leading textbook for miners and metallurgists for nearly two centuries. In addition to the Bergmeister (“master miner”), the chief mine administrator, there was a hierarchy of clerical and technical personnel and a series of craftsmen and mechanics specializing in different…
Read More
…German scientist Georgius Agricola in De re metallica (1556), the leading textbook for miners and metallurgists for nearly two centuries. In addition to the Bergmeister (“master miner”), the chief mine administrator, there was a hierarchy of clerical and technical personnel and a series of craftsmen and mechanics specializing in different…
Read More