The nature of the Earth's interior

The nature of the Earth’s interior

[4.057] The interior of the Earth C consists of particles of any shape.

They are so dense that the globules of the air-aether, in their ordinary motion, do not carry them away but only make them heavy by pressing downward.

These particles are moved somewhat by passing through the numerous channels found among them.

This is also done by the matter of the first element, filling those narrow channels, and by the terrestrial particles of the upper bodies D and E, which often descend into the widest of them and thus carry away some of the dense particles of this body.

It is conceivable that the upper surface consists of branching parts firmly connected to each other. These parts sustained and broke the impact of the globules of celestial bodies flowing through bodies B and D during the formation of this body.

Nonetheless, many relatively wide intervals exist, allowing particles of fresh water, salt, and other angular or branched particles from body E to pass through them.

The nature of quicksilver

[4.058] Beneath this surface, the parts of body C adhere less tightly to each other, and perhaps at a certain distance from it.

Many are congregated with shapes so round and smooth that, although they press on each other due to their gravity and do not allow the globules of the air-aether to flow around them from all sides, they are easily agitated.

This agitation is caused both by the finer globules among them, finding some spaces between them, and especially by the matter of the first element filling all the narrow angles left there. Consequently, they form a very dense and least transparent liquid, such as quicksilver.

The inequality of the heat permeating the Earth’s interior

[4.059] We see the spots generated daily around the Sun having very irregular and diverse shapes, it should be assumed that the central region M of the Earth, composed of similar matter to these spots, is not uniformly dense everywhere.

Therefore, it provides passage for a greater amount of the first element in some places than in others. The first element’s material passing through body C moves its parts more strongly in some places than in others.

Similarly, the heat excited by the Sun’s rays and, as mentioned earlier, reaching the depths of the Earth does not act uniformly on this body C.

This is because it communicates more easily through fragments of body E than through water D. Also, the height of mountains causes some parts of the Earth, facing the Sun, to become much hotter than those facing away from it.

They also heat differently toward the Equator and the poles, and this heat varies periodically due to the alternation of day and night and especially summer and winter.

The action of this heat

[4.060] As a result, all the particles of this Earth’s interior C always move somewhat, either more or less. This applies not only to those not closely connected but also to the hardest ones that adhere very firmly to each other.

It is not that these are completely separated from each other, but in the same way that we see branches of trees shaken by the wind and their intervals becoming larger or smaller, these dense and branching particles of body C are connected and intertwined in such a way that they do not tend to separate entirely due to the force of heat.

Instead, they are shaken somewhat and open the channels around them more or less. Although they do not separate from each other completely, it is believed that these thick and branching particles are so connected and intertwined that they are not entirely separated by the force of heat.

Instead, they are shaken somewhat, opening the channels left around them more or less. As we see branches of trees shaken by the wind, their intervals sometimes becoming larger and sometimes smaller, although these trees are not uprooted, it is thought that the dense and branching particles of body C are connected and intertwined in such a way that they do not tend to separate entirely due to the force of heat.

Instead, they are shaken somewhat and open the channels around them more or less. Since some particles are harder than others, having fallen from the upper bodies D and E into these channels, they easily crush and break them with their motion. Consequently, they reduce them to two kinds of figures that need to be considered here.

Sharp and acidic juices, from which ink, vitriol, alum, etc., are made.

[4.061] Specifically, particles with a slightly more solid material, such as salt, intercepted and crushed in these channels, become flat, rigid, and flexible from round and rigid shapes. This is similar to how the round rod of glowing iron can be flattened into an oblong plate by frequent blows from hammers.

Meanwhile, these particles, driven by the force of heat, crawl through these channels and, adhering and rubbing against their hard walls, become sharpened like the tips of swords. Thus, they turn into sharp, acidic, and erosive juices.

When these juices later solidify with metallic matter, it becomes ink; with stone, it becomes vitriol; and so on for many other substances.

[4.062] On the oily matter of bitumen, sulfur, etc.

However, softer particles, such as many that have fallen from the external earth E, as well as those of fresh water thoroughly filtered there, become so thin that they are torn apart by the motion of the material of the first element. They are divided into numerous extremely fine and flexible branches. These branches, adhering to other terrestrial particles, compose sulfur, bitumen, and all other fatty or oily substances found in mines.

[4.063] On the principles of alchemists; and how metals ascend into mines.

Thus, we have three things here that can be taken as the three commonly accepted principles of alchemists: taking sharp juice for salt, the softest branches of oily matter for sulfur, and quicksilver itself for their mercury.

It can be believed that all metals come to us only because sharp juices, flowing through channels of body C, separate some of its particles.

These particles, later enveloped and clothed in oily matter, are easily carried upward by quicksilver when it is rarefied by heat. They form various metals according to their different magnitudes and shapes. I might have described each one individually at this point if it had been allowed to perform various experiments required for their certain knowledge.