In some parts of the mine, there are special stones upon which turquoise-like minerals have been found. Because of this, the miners call these stones the “Mother of Turquoise.” These stones are not only curious to look at, but also important to those who study minerals. Their colours and forms show how different mineral substances grow slowly inside the earth over long periods of time The Hot Baths and Their Heat.
Such stones are often found near copper veins and mineral waters. Their appearance suggests that the earth in these places is rich in chemical substances that slowly change and form new minerals. This natural process is one of the wonders often seen in deep mines, where nature works quietly and continuously.
The Vitriolic Springs in the Mine
There are also two remarkable springs of vitriolic water deep inside the mine. These springs are called the Old Ziment and the New Ziment. They are located very far below ground, and the water in them has a strange and useful property. When pieces of iron are placed in these waters, the iron slowly changes and becomes covered with copper.
Usually, the iron is left in the water for about fourteen days. During this time, a visible change happens. The surface of the iron begins to take on the colour and appearance of copper. This process is very profitable to the workers, because even the worst and most useless old iron can be used in this way. After being placed in the spring, it is turned into a fine and pure kind of copper.
The Value of This Natural Copper
The copper produced by these waters is highly valued. It is said to be more ductile, more malleable, and easier to melt than ordinary copper taken from ore. While copper ore must pass through many fires and furnaces before it becomes useful metal, this copper can often be melted easily without adding any other substance Private Tour Guide Turkey.
I myself took a good quantity of this copper from the Old Ziment spring. I also saw a piece of metal shaped like a heart which had been placed in the water eleven or twelve days before. It kept its original shape perfectly, but what had once been iron had become copper in colour and substance. This was a very curious sight and showed the strong effect of the mineral water.
Different Opinions About the Change of Metals
Some people do not believe that this process is a true transformation of one metal into another. Instead, they say that the water of the Ziment spring is full of a copper-like substance, often called vitriol of Venus. According to their opinion, when this water meets iron, which they call Mars, the copper substance slowly enters into the iron.
They explain it by saying that the copper spreads through the iron, divides it, and finally takes its place. In this way, the body of the iron is replaced by the copper substance from the water. This idea follows the old manner of speaking about metals using the names of planets.
Evidence Seen in the Spring
During the process of changing iron into copper, many small particles fall away and settle at the bottom of the spring in the form of powder. At first sight, one might think this powder is iron that has been removed. However, when I collected some of this powder and melted it, I found that it produced excellent copper. This shows that the separated material is not iron, but copper formed by the action of the water.
If the iron is not truly changed, then it is difficult to explain what becomes of it. The evidence seen in the spring strongly suggests that a real and significant change takes place.
Nature and Human Imitation
This operation, which nature performs so quietly and skillfully in the mine, is very remarkable. It shows how powerful natural mineral waters can be in altering metals over time. I have also seen similar processes attempted by human art and experiment. In some cases, these attempts seemed to succeed to a certain degree, though none matched the perfection of nature’s own work inside the mine.
