Gold Analysis: From Fire Assay to Spectroscopy — A Review

Bachmann, H. G.

doi:10.1007/978-94-015-1292-3_19

Cited by 2 publications

(1 citation statement)

References 32 publications

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“…). Thus analytical data obtained by non‐destructive XRF of heavy metal alloys is restricted to surface layers often only a few micrometres thick; for example, up to 50 µm (0–0.05 mm) ( Hall , 61–6; Cowell , 76–85; Bachmann , 303–15; Cowell , 448–60). Given that in some circumstances the depletion zone can be more than 100 µm (0.1 mm) thick on some objects, depending on the alloy (Hook and Needham , 15–24; Lehrberger and Raub , 341–55), surface analyses alone may not give the composition of the original alloy.…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Never Judge A Gold Object by Its Surface Analysis: A Study of Surface Phenomena in a Selection of Gold Objects From the Staffordshire Hoard

Blakelock¹

2015

Archaeometry

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With the introduction of commercially available handheld XRF analysers, there is a growing problem that the results, simply taken at face value, are regarded as representative of the bulk gold alloys of the objects analysed in museums and used for treasure analysis. It is well known that surface analysis is problematic, and the aim of this study was to test whether nondestructive surface analysis could be useful in grouping the very large numbers of fragmentary pieces in the Anglo-Saxon Staffordshire Hoard. Surface and subsurface analyses of 16 objects from the Hoard were carried out by X-ray fluorescence (XRF) and scanning electron microscopy with energy-dispersive X-ray analysis (SEM-EDX). The results indicate that there are significant but inconsistent levels of enrichment of the gold at the surface of many of these objects, due to the loss of both copper and silver. The significant loss of silver (up to 50% relative in some cases) suggests that some form of deliberately induced depletion gilding was carried out during manufacture to remove both silver and copper from the surface. In three cases, an increase in silver at the surface compared to the core metal was detected: this might tentatively be explained by redeposition from contact with silver objects during burial. These results have clear implications for the reliability and interpretation of surface analysis data of gold alloys from this period.

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Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%