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Bright Common Nails: Composition to Corrosion
Bright common nails in hardware are used in construction, woodworking, and various DIY projects from building to pigment making. Bright...

Sylvia Rose
Oct 17, 20243 min read
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Secret Life of Rust: Power of Bacteria
Rust hides within itself a secret life, orchestrated by industrious communities of microscopic bacteria with immense power in the process...

Sylvia Rose
Oct 16, 20244 min read
21 views


Carbon Steel: Origins, Composition & Uses
Carbon steel is an essential material in various industries, renowned for versatility and strength. Uncover the secrets of carbon steel:...

Sylvia Rose
Oct 14, 20245 min read
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Metal to Rust: Unseen Organisms in Action
Rust, the reddish-brown coating on metals, is formed by exposure to oxygen and moisture. Responsible for this phenomenon are several...

Sylvia Rose
Oct 13, 20243 min read
20 views


Tungsten: Elusive Metal of Light, Art & Industry
Tungsten, also known as wolfram, is a rare and versatile metal. In nature, tungsten is found in ore form, combined with other elements....

Sylvia Rose
Oct 12, 20245 min read
41 views


Molybdochalkos: Nigredo Black Lead of Maria
Molybdochalkos is a blend of copper and lead. It's the standard metal used in the kerotakis, an alchemical creation attributed to Maria...

Sylvia Rose
Oct 12, 20242 min read
14 views


Experiments With Rust: Going 4 the Gold
Experimenting with rust. Mmm rust. Amazing how many colors it gives out. I'm trying for an earthy gold and a couple other tones. On the...

Sylvia Rose
Oct 9, 20241 min read
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Process of Projection in Renaissance Alchemy
Projection, according to experts of the Renaissance, is the final act of alchemical work once the Philosophers' Stone has been made. The...

Sylvia Rose
Oct 6, 20243 min read
15 views


Kerotakis: Ancient Alchemical Equipment
The kerotakis (Greek: κυροτακίς) is an ancient alchemical apparatus of multiple purposes, primarily heating substances and collecting...

Sylvia Rose
Oct 6, 20242 min read
17 views


Michael Sendivogius: Adventures in Alchemy
Michael Sendivogius (1566 - 1636) is a Polish savant of alchemy, medicine and chemistry. He designs mines and furnaces, travels widely...

Sylvia Rose
Oct 5, 20244 min read
10 views


Alchemy & the Magnum Opus - Black White Yellow Red
The Magnum Opus or Great Work is the goal of alchemists. From ancient Alexandria and the wisdom of Maria the Prophetess comes a color...

Sylvia Rose
Oct 5, 20244 min read
13 views


Book of Comarius: Making Gold with Cleopatra
The Book of Comarius is a mysterious tome dedicated to Cleopatra the Divine, or Cleopatra the Alchemist of Alexandria. In it, Comarius, a...

Sylvia Rose
Oct 3, 20245 min read
6 views


Best Mortar & Pestles for Artists, Chefs, Scientists
The mortar and pestle as a unit is about 35,000 years old. With many varieties available today it's important to choose the best mortar...

Sylvia Rose
Oct 1, 20244 min read
17 views


Chemistry of Rust: Minerals & Pigment Colors
Rust, the reddish-brown coating that forms on iron or steel due to exposure to oxygen and moisture is a fascinating display of chemistry....

Sylvia Rose
Oct 1, 20245 min read
7 views


Chalcedony Gems: Secrets of Silicon Dioxide
Silicon dioxide (SiO₂), or silica, holds fascinating secrets within its molecular structure. It's one of the most abundant minerals found...

Sylvia Rose
Sep 30, 20245 min read
20 views


Carbuncle: Red Stone of Magic & Medicine
Carbuncle has many meanings. Today it most often describes a deep red almandine garnet gemstone cut with a smooth, convex face or...

Sylvia Rose
Sep 30, 20245 min read
13 views


Magnetite: Ubiquitous Iron Ore with Soul
Magnetite is an iron ore formed below the earth's surface. As one of the primary iron ores it keeps the wheels of progress turning....

Sylvia Rose
Sep 29, 20245 min read
15 views


Seven Precious Stones of the Ancient World
Precious stones are made by economic supply and demand. First, however, they're formed by fire and pressure for millions of years. Prized...

Sylvia Rose
Sep 29, 20249 min read
18 views


Litharge: Toxic Lead Mineral of Science & Art
Litharge (PbO) is a lead oxide mineral with an alpha and beta structure. It's among the most prominent of the lead oxides known due to...

Sylvia Rose
Sep 28, 20243 min read
5 views


Fulminating Silver: Dangerous Explosives in Alchemical Science
Fulminating silver is a term applicable to a number of silver base d explosives which "fulminate" or detonate easily and violently,...

Sylvia Rose
Sep 27, 20243 min read
6 views
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