Papers - Microscopic Study of Ancient Bronze and Copper (With Discussion)

A PART of the material incorporated in this paper was derived from the studies of ancient metal objects examined by the authors from time to time for museums and art collectors, in order to verify the age of the metal. The data thus accumulated during several years were systematically surveyed and supplemented by new material obtained in examination of a set of specimens that had been generously donated by museums for this study. Altogether over 50 pieces were investigated, of which 39 are described in this paper. Every specimen is at least 1500 years old; the majority are considerably older. Exact conditions to which these bronze and copper objects were exposed in the ground are unknown, unfortunately. It is safe to say that exposure conditions did not remain constant during the long period of burial. Although the collection of specimens studied represents a wide variation in location and age of the objects, as well as in the nature and composition of the metals, it was found that fundamental changes in the metal structure were limited to a few typical cases which, therefore, may be considered as more or less general. The authors' chief aim was to study the effect of extremely long periods of corrosion on the structure of bronze and copper. Specimens Studied As the majority of specimens were very small and sometimes had a heavy coat of patina, or crust, which further reduced the amount of metal available for analysis, quantitative chemical analyses were not made. Small detached specimens were not always obtainable and studies had to be made on the statue, or other object, itself. In the description of specimens (Table I), their approximate compositions determined under the microscopc are given. The proportion of tin in bronze containing eutectoid was found by visual estimation of the area occupied by the eutectoid. It was based on the assumption that maximum solubility of tin in copper on moderately slow cooling is 7 to 8 per cent in thin castings and 9 to 10 per cent in heavy castings. When the metal was all