Georgius Agricola (1494–1555), a distinguished German scholar, studied philology, theology, and philosophy in Leipzig, and later medicine and natural sciences in Bologna and for two years in Venice, and finally in Ferrara, where he was awarded a doctorate of medicine. In 1527, he accepted the position of municipal physician in Jáchymov. Here, he spent his free time studying his favourite Latin and Greek authors, devoted himself intensely to mining and mineralogy, and associated with experienced miners, especially Lorenz Bermann, a smelter controller who was exceptionally well versed in the sciences, mining, and metallurgy. For years he longed to gain knowledge about metals and their compounds and the possibilities of applying these substances in medicine. Here, Agricola wrote his first mineralogical and mining treatise, the first printed work about Jáchymov – Bermannus sive de re metallica dialogus. In it, he mentioned all the minerals and rocks of Jáchymov, described them, and stated their usability in medicine. After four years, he left for Chemnitz, but frequently returned to Jáchymov. In 1550, he met J. Mathesius there, and they became very close. Mathesius used Agricola’s mineralogical knowledge in his sermons. Agricola’s seminal work on mining and metallurgy, De re metallica, came about through his collaboration with the illustrator Basilius Weffringer and was published in Basel in 1556.
Jáchymov clearly held a central place for Agricola in his scientific life; the foundations of modern mineralogy and mining science were also laid here.