Alusfakte

Alusfakte is a term used in some contexts, particularly in early modern European alchemy and metallurgy, to refer to a specific type of material or substance. While the precise definition can vary depending on the historical source and the author's specific theories, it generally pertains to materials that are not pure metals but rather alloys or impure metallic substances. These were often the starting materials for alchemical transformations or were produced as byproducts of smelting and refining processes. The term is sometimes contrasted with more refined or "perfected" metals. The understanding of alusfakte was tied to the alchemical belief in the transmutation of base metals into noble ones, such as gold. Alchemists would often experiment with these less refined materials, attempting to purify them or alter their properties through various chemical and physical processes. The study and manipulation of alusfakte were thus an integral part of the practical, experimental side of early alchemy and metallurgy, contributing to the development of chemical knowledge and laboratory techniques.