DELIUS, Christoph Traugott.

Anleitung zu der Bergbaukunst nach ihrer Theorie und Ausübung, nebst einer Abhandlung von den Grundsätzen der Berg- Kammeralwissenschaft...

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Engraved vignette on title & 24 fine folding engraved plates. 9 p.l., 519, 45 pp. Large thick 4to, cont. sheep, spine richly gilt, contrasting leather lettering piece on spine. Vienna: J.T. Trattner, 1773. First edition and a very fine and fresh copy of an extremely important book in the history of geology and mining. This work contains Delius’ fullest statement concerning the theory of the origin of mountains and their ore deposits, first enunciated in his Vom Ursprunge der Gebirge (1770). Delius (1728-79), was a mining official in the Banat district and professor of metallurgy and chemistry at the Mining Academy of Chemnitz. “Delius sets forth the facts which underlie one of the greatest discoveries concerning ore bodies which has been made in modern times...This is the surface alteration of ore deposits, with the development of secondary minerals, and an underlying zone of secondary enrichment. He says that in veins of the Siebenbürgen, malachite and azurite are found extending from the grass roots to a depth of about 120 feet, but not lower. This, he observes, is evidently due to the fact that these minerals require much more of the sun’s heat for their production. Gold occurs immediately below them, because it also needs much heat to develop it. Below it comes a zone rich in silver, as this noble metal requires less heat, and still lower down, lead is present abundantly and being a ‘cold’ body, continues to considerable depths.”–Adams, The Birth and Development of the Geological Sciences, p. 313–(& see pp. 311-313 for a full discussion of the importance of this work). The A.D.B. calls this a “valuable work” and the “best, most extensive, and informative work concerning mining technology of the time” (Vol. 5, p. 38). The fine plates depict cross-sections of mineral deposits, mines, mining equipment and structures, etc. Fine copy and rare in this condition. There was a French translation in 1778. ❧ Hoover 259. Poggendorff, I, 544.

• USD 7,500.00 > 其他币种价格
• 订书号：: HillBibl-1448

• 书商: Jonathan A. Hill, Bookseller, Inc. (USA)