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arXiv · 1601.00845

Depletion Gilding: An Ancient Method for Surface Enrichment of Gold Alloys

Amelia Carolina Sparavigna
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Abstract

Ancient objects made of noble metal alloys, that is, gold with copper and/or silver, can show the phenomenon of surface enrichment. This phenomenon is regarding the composition of the surface, which has a percentage of gold higher than that of the bulk. This enrichment is obtained by a depletion of the other elements of the alloy, which are, in some manner, removed. This depletion gilding process was used by pre-Columbian populations for their 'tumbaga', a gold-copper alloy, to give it the luster of gold.

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Amelia Carolina Sparavigna. 2016-01-03. Depletion Gilding: An Ancient Method for Surface Enrichment of Gold Alloys. https://arxiv.org/abs/1601.00845

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