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Diotimos Library · Esotericism & Spirituality Collection · English Edition

Gerhard Dorn and John French

A Chymical Dictionary

An Expanded Diotimos Lexicon of Paracelsian and Alchemical Language

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A Chymical DictionaryMercurius mineralium

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English Edition · Branch 148 of 740

Mercurius mineralium

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A Chymical Dictionary

p. 148

Mercurius mineralium

Metals minerals and metallic preparations · A Chymical Dictionary

At a Glance

The word. An extracted oiliness associated with the mines of two metals.

In the book. Liquor illustrates how oil-language can enter material compounds, while Mercurius metallorum præcipitatus describes a different extracted subject through precipitation.

A place to read. The historical definition below, 1650 dictionary, unnumbered definition page 33; facsimile PDF page 361.

Historical Definition

Mercurius mineralium is an oiliness extracted from the mines of gold and silver.

Meaning

Oiliness describes the thing extracted; the mines of gold and silver specify its setting or source. The definition does not simply equate the phrase with liquid quicksilver, nor state that gold and silver themselves have become a visible ordinary oil.

Use in the Book

Liquor illustrates how oil-language can enter material compounds, while Mercurius metallorum præcipitatus describes a different extracted subject through precipitation. The particular descriptors are necessary to keep these preparations apart.

Places to Read

Liquor. A naming rule by which a qualified liquor can mean an oil.

Mercurius metallorum præcipitatus. A preparation specified by metallic extraction followed by precipitation.

Historical source: 1650 dictionary, unnumbered definition page 33; facsimile PDF page 361 — Facsimile

Sources. A Chymical Dictionary 1650, 1650 dictionary, facsimile PDF page 361, Mercurius mineralium

See also. Liquor; Mercurius metallorum præcipitatus

148

About This Reading Edition

The complete 706 historical definitions of the 1650 English dictionary, modernised and accompanied by expanded Diotimos commentary, reading routes, 15 textual notes and complete linked indexes.

Historical Text

A Chymicall Dictionary, London 1650, English version associated with John French, based on Gerhard Dorn’s Dictionarium Theophrasti Paracelsi. The containing volume also prints Sendivogius and Paracelsus; neither neighboring work changes this dictionary’s attribution.

About This Edition

Complete 706 definition paragraphs with new introduction, commentary, reading guides and indexes; Diotimos Editions, 2026.

Rights

The historical 1650 English text is in the public domain. New introduction, commentary, reading guides and indexes are © 2026 Diotimos Editions and published with the site owner’s authorization.