Origin and Education
Lazar Ercker of Schreckenfels, also known as Lazarus Erker or Ecker, was born around 1528 or 1530 in Annaberg in Saxony.
Between 1547 and 1548 he studied mathematics and natural sciences at the University of Wittenberg. Already during his studies he focused on ore analysis and the technical aspects of mining and metallurgy.
Activity in Jáchymov
In 1567 Ercker moved to Jáchymov, where his brother-in-law Paul Uthmann lived. At that time the town was one of the most important mining centres in Central Europe.
His stay in Jáchymov played an important role in his professional development. Here he gained practical knowledge of mining operations and metallurgical processes, which later influenced both his reforms and his scholarly work.
Career in Bohemian Mining Administration
In 1555 he worked as an assayer at the electoral court in Dresden. In March 1568 he was appointed by the ruler as supervisory assayer in Kutná Hora, the principal centre of silver mining in the Bohemian lands.
In 1577 he became the chief mining official of the Kingdom of Bohemia. In this position he introduced reforms in mining administration, metallurgy and labour organization in the mines, and also worked to improve the social conditions of miners.
Emperor Rudolf II ennobled him in 1586 and granted him the noble predicate “of Schreckenfels”.
In 1590 he was a candidate for the office of supreme mint master of the Kingdom of Bohemia.
Death
At the turn of the years 1593 and 1594 he fell seriously ill and died in Prague on 6 January 1594.
Work
His most important work is the Book on Assaying, completed in 1573 and printed in Prague in 1574.
The book served as a standard textbook for ore analysis until the eighteenth century. Together with the works of Georg Agricola it helped shape the scientific foundations of mining and metallurgy.
