Georgius Agricola and the Succi Concreti: From Ancient Physiology to Modern Mineralogy

One of the most innovative contributions to mineralogy by Georgius Agricola, destined to exert a long-lasting influence, was the introduction of the concept of “congealed juices” (succi concreti). This category encompassed hard substances that dissolve or soften upon contact with water, intended to explain the distinctive physico-chemical properties of certain minerals that defied classification within ancient or medieval geological frameworks. This paper argues that this innovation was not developed ex nihilo, but rather drew clear inspiration from ancient medico-physiological theories, with which Agricola was extremely familiar given his established background as a humanist and philologist well-versed in ancient Greek medical literature. The underlying notion is in turn rooted in the Aristotelian conception of natural matter, meaning that Agricola, while seeking to rectify Aristotle’s mineralogical system, was in fact operating within the same paradigm.