Initial experiments on arsenical bronze production

Abstract

The work reported in this article forms the basis for an extended study of arsenic bronze. The ease with which a copper-arsenic alloy could be prepared by fusing copper metal with arsenopyrite has been shown; conditions can be readily adjusted to yield alloys with compositions equivalent to those made in antiquity. While iron-metal prills were found in the fused crucible remains, it is probable that such metallic iron will only be observed in ancient crucible sherds when full vitrification has taken place, otherwise the iron will weather over time to oxide.