Re: Sumerian gold
Martin (Martin@Martin@*user@*site.*mysite.*domain.eagle.xs4all.nl.eagle.xs4all.nl)
22 Jul 96 07:58:58
21-Jul-96 18:04:16, Stephen Barnard wrote to All
Subject: Re: Sumerian gold
SB> From: Stephen Barnard <steve@megafauna.com>
SB> Martin wrote:
>>
>> In fact, you can get gold as hard as steel. You just have to keep on
>> hammering it to the point of breaking. That way you increase the density
>> of the metal to the highest. BTW, gold is never 24 carat, but merely
>> 23.99 in the purest form.
>>
>> So, it is nothing what can't be duplicated today.
>>
>> Martin.
SB> You can hammer on gold until the sun grows cold, and you will not
SB> increase it's density one iota. Hammering hot metal (usually iron or
SB> steel) to increase its hardness is called tempering. It doesn't work by
SB> increasing density. It works by fracturing the crystaline structure of
SB> the metal, thereby establishing internal stresses. I suppose that
SB> tempering could affect the hardness of gold, but it would never come
SB> close to that of steel.
Well, it was told by my teacher, with years of practice in metal works,
when I asked him. But than again maybe he's getting old? :=)
I know for fact, of my owm experience, that one cannot hammer gold
in a hot condition. The same goes for silver too. This can only be
done with iron or steel. If we are able, and that's wat my response
was all about, to make golden knives of 23.99 carat, it is no mysterious
thing only the Sumerians were able to.
SB> Steve Barnard
SB> -!-
SB> - Origin: Usenet:megafauna (2:280/916.9)
Martin.
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