De Re Metallica, written by Georg Agricola and published in 1556, is the great Renaissance treatise on mining and metallurgy. Translated here from the first Latin edition, it systematically describes the digging of mines, the extraction and assaying of ores, the machinery of pumps and hoists, and the smelting of metals.
Richly illustrated in its original form, the work remained the standard authority on mining for nearly two centuries and is a milestone in the history of technology. It documents the practical knowledge of early modern industry in remarkable detail. This free EPUB edition presents the classic English translation for readers of the history of science and engineering.