§2.9CAP. IX. Τῶν δὲ μεταλλευτῶν τὰ ἐν τοῖς γεωφανέσι ἔτι λοιπὰ, ὧν ἡ γένεσις ὥσπερ ἐλέχθη κατʼ ἀρχὰς ἐκ συρροῆς τινὸς καὶ ἐκκρίσεως γίνεται καθαρωτέρας καὶ ὁμαλωτέρας τῶν ἄλλων.
CAP. IX. Of the mineral substances, there remain those found in earth-like matter, whose generation, as was said at the beginning, occurs from a certain confluence and secretion that is purer and more uniform than the others.
χρώματα δὲ παντοῖα λαμβάνουσι καὶ διὰ τὴν τῶν ὑποκειμένων διὰ τὴν τῶν ουντων διαφορὰν, ἐξ ὧν τὰς μὲν μαλάττοντες τὰς δὲ τήκοντες καὶ τρίβοντες συντιθέασι τὰς λίθους τὰς ἐκ τῆς Ἀσίας ταύτας ἀγομένας.
They take on all kinds of colors due to the difference of the underlying substances, from which they compose these stones brought from Asia, softening some, melting others, and grinding others.
αἱ δʼ αὐτοφυεῖς καὶ ἄμα τῷ περιττῷ τὸ χρήσιμον ἔχουσαι σχεδὸν τρεῖς εἰσὶν ἢ τέτταρες, ἣ τε μηλιὰς καὶ ἡ κιμωλία καὶ ἡ σαμία καὶ ἡ τυμφαῖκὴ τετάρτη παρὰ ταύτας ἢ γύψος.
The natural ones, which possess utility along with exceptional qualities, are roughly three or four: Melian earth, Kimolian, Samian, and a fourth besides these, Tymphaic, or gypsum.
χρῶνται δὲ οἱ γραφεῖς τῇ μηλιάδι μόνον, τῇ σαμίᾳ δʼ οὔ καίπερ οὔσῃ καλῇ, διὰ τὸ λίπος ἔχειν καὶ πυκνότητα καὶ λειότητα.
Painters use only Melian earth, and not Samian, although it is beautiful, because it has oiliness, density, and smoothness.
τὸ γὰρ ἢρεμον καὶ δες καὶ ἀλιπὲς ἐπὶ τῆς γραφῆς ἁρμόττει μᾶλλον ὅπερ ἡ μηλιὰς ἔχει τῷ φαρίδι.
For that which is calm, friable, and non-oily is more suitable for painting, which is what Melian earth has in its special lightness.
εἰσὶ δὲ ἐν τῇ Μήλῳ καὶ ἐν τῇ Σάμῳ διαφοραὶ τῆς γῆς πλείους.
In Melos and in Samos there are several differences of earth.
ὀρύττοντα μὲν οὖν οὐκ ἔστιν ὀρθὸν στῆναι ἐν τοῖς ἐν Σάμῳ ἀλλʼ ἀναγκαῖον ἢ ὕπτιον ἢ πλάγιον.
Now, those who dig in Samos cannot stand upright, but must lie on their backs or on their sides.
ἡ δὲ φλὲψ ἐπὶ πολὺ διατείνει, τὸ μὲν ὕψος ἡλίκη δίπους, τὸ δὲ βάθος πολλῷ μείζων· ἐφʼ ἑκάτερα δʼ αὐτὴν λίθοι περιέχουσιν ἐξ ὧν ἐξαιρεῖται.
And the vein extends for a long distance, its height being about two feet, but its depth much greater; and stones surround it on both sides, from which it is extracted.
διαφυὴν ἔχει διὰ μέσου καὶ ἡ διαφυὴ βελτίων ἐστὶ τῶν ἔξω καὶ πάλιν ἑτέραν αὐτῆς καὶ ἑτέραν ἄχρι τεττάρων. . ἐστὶν ἡ ἐσχάτη, καλεῖται ἀστήρ· χρῶνται δὲ τῇ γῇ πρὸς τὰ ἱμάτια μάλιστα ἢ μόνον.
It has a division through the middle, and this division is better than the outer parts, and again another and another after it up to four; the last is called the "star"; and they use this earth mostly or only for clothes.
χρῶνται δὲ καὶ τῇ τυμφαϊκῇ πρὸς τὰ ἱμάτια καὶ καλοῦσι γύψον οἱ περὶ τὸν Ἄθων καὶ τοὺς τόπους ἐκείνους.
They also use the Tymphaic earth for clothes, and those around Mount Athos and those places call it gypsum.
ἡ δὲ γύψος γίνεται πλείστη μὲν ἐν Κύπρῳ καὶ περιφανεστάτη. μικρὸν γὰρ ἀφαιροῦσι τῆς γῆς ὀρύττοντες.
Gypsum is produced in greatest abundance and is most conspicuous in Cyprus, for they remove only a little earth when digging.
ἐν Φοινίκῃ δὲ καὶ ἐν Συρίᾳ καίοντες τοὺς λίθους ποιοῦσιν.
In Phoenicia and in Syria they make it by burning the stones.
ἔπειτα δʼ ἐν Θουρίοις καὶ γὰρ ἐκεῖ γίνεται πολλή.
Then in Thurii, for there too much is produced.
τρίτη δὲ ἡ περὶ Τυμφαίαν καὶ περὶ Περραιβίαν καὶ κατʼ ἄλλους τόπους.
And thirdly, that around Tymphaea and Perrhaebia and in other places.
ἡ δὲ φύσις αὐτῆς ἰδία· λιθωδεστέρα γὰρ μᾶλλόν ἐστιν ἢ γεώδης· ὁ δὲ λίθος ἐμφερὴς τῷ ἀλαβαστρίτῃ· μέγας δʼ οὐ τεμνεται ἀλλὰ χαλικώδης.
Its nature is peculiar, for it is more stony than earthy; and the stone is similar to alabaster, but it is not cut in large pieces, being gravelly.
ἡ δὲ γλισχρότης καὶ θερμότης ὅταν βρεχθῇ θαυμαστή.
Its stickiness and heat when wet are wonderful.
χρῶνται γὰρ πρός τε τὰ οἰκοδομήματα τὸν λίθον περιχέοντες κἄν τι ἄλλο βούλωνται τοιοῦτον κολλῆσαι.
For they use it for buildings, pouring it around the stone, or if they wish to cement any other such thing.
κόψαντες δὲ καὶ ὕδωρ ἐπιχέοντες ταράττουσι ξύλοις, τῇ χειρὶ γὰρ οὐ δύνανται διὰ τὴν θερμότητα.
And having crushed it and poured water on it, they stir it with wooden sticks, for they cannot do so with the hand because of the heat.
βρέχουσι δὲ παραχρῆμα πρὸς τὴν χρείαν· ἐὰν (δὲ) μικρὸν πρότερον ταχὺ πήγνυται καὶ οὐκ ἔστι διελεῖν.
And they wet it immediately before use; for if they wet it a little before, it sets quickly and cannot be divided.
θαυμαστὴ δὲ καὶ (ἡ) ἰσχύς· ὅτε γὰρ οἱ λίθοι ῥήγνυνται ἢ διαφέρονται ἡ γύψος οὐκ ἀνίησι, πολλάκις δὲ καὶ τὰ μὲν πέπτωκε καὶ ὑφῄρηται, τὰ δʼ ἄνω κρεμάμενα μένει συνεχόμενα τῇ κολλήσει.
Its strength too is wonderful; for when the stones break or are parted, the gypsum does not let go, and often the lower parts have fallen and been removed, while the upper parts remain suspended, held together by the cement.
δύναται δὲ καὶ ὑφαιρουμένη πάλιν καὶ πάλιν ὀπτᾶσθαι καὶ γίνεσθαι χρησίμη.
It can also, when removed, be burnt again and again and become useful.
περὶ μὲν οὖν Κύπρον καὶ Φοινίκην εἰς ταῦτα μάλιστα, περὶ δὲ Ἰταλίαν καὶ εἰς τὸν οἶνον· καὶ οἱ γραφεῖς (πρὸς) ἔνια τῶν κατὰ τὴν τέχνην ἔτι δὲ οἱ γναφεῖς ἐμπάττοντες εἰς τὰ ἱμάτια.
In Cyprus and Phoenicia, therefore, it is used mostly for these things, but in Italy also for wine; and painters use it for some of their techniques, and fullers too, sprinkling it upon clothes.
διαφέρειν δὲ δοκεῖ καὶ πρὸς ἀπομάγματα πολὺ τῶν ἄλλων, εἰς ὃ καὶ χρῶνται μᾶλλον καὶ μάλισθʼ οἱ περὶ τὴν Ἑλλάδα, γλισχρότητι καὶ λειότητι.
It seems to excel others greatly also for making casts, for which purpose those around Greece use it more and especially, because of its stickiness and smoothness.
ἡ μὲν δύναμις ἐν τούτοις καὶ τοιούτοις.
Its power is in these and such things.
ἡ δὲ φύσις ἔοικεν ἀμφότερά πως ἔχειν καὶ τὰ τῆς κονίας καὶ τὰ τῆς γῆς, θερμότητα καὶ γλισχρότητα, μᾶλλον δὲ ἑκατέραν ὑπερέχουσαν.
But its nature seems to have somehow both the properties of lime and those of earth, heat and stickiness, or rather each property in excess.
ὅτι δʼ ἔμπυρος κἀκεῖθεν φανερόν. ἤδη γάρ τις ναῦς ἱματηγὸς βρεχθέντων ἱματίων ὡς ἐπυρώθησαν συγκατεκαύθη καὶ αὐτή.
That it contains fire is clear also from this: once a ship carrying clothes, when the clothes became wet and took fire, was itself burnt along with them.
καίουσι δὲ καὶ ἐν Φοινίκῃ καὶ ἐν Συρίᾳ καμινεύοντες αὐτήν· καίουσι δὲ μάλιστα τούς μαρμάρους καὶ ἁπλουστέρους. στερεωτάτους μὲν παρατιθέντες (βόλιτον, ἕνεκα) τοὐ θᾶττον καίεσθαι καὶ μᾶλλον.
And they burn it in Phoenicia and in Syria by placing it in kilns; they burn especially marbles and simpler stones, placing dung beside the hardest ones for the sake of burning them faster and more intensely.
δοκεῖ γὰρ θερμότατον εἶναι πυρωθὲν καὶ πλεῖστον χρόνον διαμένει.
For it seems to be extremely hot when fired and remains so for a very long time.
ὀπτήσαντες δὲ κόπτουσι ὥσπερ τὴν κονίαν.
And having baked it, they crush it like lime.
ἐκ τούτου δʼ ἂν δόξειεν εἶναι φανερὸν ὅτι πυρώδης τις ἡ γένεσις αὐτῆς τὸ ὅλον ἐστίν.
From this it would seem clear that its generation as a whole is of a fiery nature.