covering (sequins from robe - Author's note) of Tut.ankh.Amen, the Deputy Master of the Melbourne Mint has given me the information appended herewith - as the result of some of his experiments.

This is a point that indicates the reason of the red tint on the discs - it also suggests that the red is inherent and comes to the surface".

The appended note:- "Generally speaking, owing to the high melting point of iron, this metal may be alloyed with either pure gold or pure silver with great difficulty; but if all three metals are present in the original ore, these combined metals will melt into an alloy at a much lower temperature than the melting point of iron."

"When iron is alloyed with gold, even in very minute proportions, a reddish brown stain or iridescence generally appears on the face of the molten metal owing to oxidation; and unless special methods are used to prevent access of air, this reddish iridescence is visible on the face of the gold after it has been poured and cooled in a mould."


(August 30, 2008)


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