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Energy Dispersive X-Ray Spectrometry of Gold-Silver-Copper Standards for Comparison with Historic Gold Objects

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  28 February 2011

S.M. White
Affiliation:
Metropolitan Museum of Art, Objects Conservation Department, New York City 10028
R.J. Koestler
Affiliation:
Metropolitan Museum of Art, Objects Conservation Department, New York City 10028
C. Blair
Affiliation:
Metropolitan Museum of Art, Objects Conservation Department, New York City 10028
N. Indictor
Affiliation:
Brooklyn College, Cuny and the Grad. Prog., Chemistry Dept., Brooklyn, NY 11210
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Abstract

Seven ternary mixtures of gold(80-95%)-silver(4-15%)-copper(1-15%) were prepared as standards for the determination of elemental composition by energy dispersive X-ray spectrometry (EDS). Two geometric forms (flat and oblate) of the standards were prepared for comparison to the analyses of historic gold objects. Surface analyses were performed. Polished sections of the standards were also analysed Comparison between two methods for collecting EDS data is reported. The analyses are discussed in terms of developing a generalized methodology for estimating elemental composition of museum artifacts.

Type
Research Article
Copyright
Copyright © Materials Research Society 1990

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