TAA i.3.14.22

GOLD DISCS FROM TUTANKHAMEN’S COFFIN.

            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. 

            The reddish iridescence which

you showed us, on the gold buttons

from the corselet of King Tut, is

very probably due to the presence 

of iron which the special assays

of this gold have disclosed.

With the compliments of:

                        James R. Ogden,

                                    HARROGATE.