《天工开物·下篇·丹青》
提炼水银，一般采用颜色嫩白的次等朱砂或者缸里浮上来的二朱。加水搓成粗条，盘起来放进锅里。每锅共装三十斤，下面烧火用的炭也要三十斤。
凡升水银，或用嫩白次砂，或用缸中跌出浮面二朱，水和槎成大盘条，每三十斤入一釜内升Е，其下炭质亦用三十斤。
Mercury is generally extracted from tender-colored, low-grade cinnabar or vermilion floating in a jar. Add water to make it into coarse strips, roll it up and put it in the pot. Each pot contains thirty catties, and thirty catties of charcoal is required for burning the fire below.