Assaying and smelting noble metals in sixteenth-century Austria : a comparative analytical study
This thesis aims primarily at furthering our understanding of the technologies involved in the metallurgy of precious metals during the Renaissance, by combining a critical evaluation of historical texts with the analytical study of contemporary archaeological remains. In particular, this work focuses on high-temperature processes performed in the fire assay and smelting of ores, by investigating two archaeological case studies from sixteenth-century Austria: the small-scale laboratory of Oberstockstall â the most complete Renaissance laboratory ever recovered â, and the contemporary large-scale gold smelting site of the Angertal. The analytical techniques used are optical microscopy, X-ray fluorescence, and scanning electron microscopy-energy and wavelength dispersive spectrometry. In the Oberstockstall laboratory, the study of high-temperature residues produced in triangular crucibles, scorifiers and cupels allows a detailed examination of fire assay practice. The main technical sequence identified is a three-step fusion-scorification-cupellation process, performed on fahlores for their precious metal content, together with a wider range of experimental chymical activities, testing the properties of
Mongiatti, A.
Assaying and smelting noble metals in sixteenth-century Austria : a comparative analytical study. This thesis aims primarily at furthering our understanding of the technologies involved in the metallurgy of precious metals during the Renaissance, by combining a critical evaluation of historical texts with the analytical study of contemporary archaeological remains. In particular, this work focuses on high-temperature processes performed in the fire assay and smelting of ores, by investigating two archaeological case studies from sixteenth-century Austria: the small-scale laboratory of Oberstockstall â the most complete Renaissance laboratory ever recovered â, and the contemporary large-scale gold smelting site of the Angertal. The analytical techniques used are optical microscopy, X-ray fluorescence, and scanning electron microscopy-energy and wavelength dispersive spectrometry. In the Oberstockstall laboratory, the study of high-temperature residues produced in triangular crucibles, scorifiers and cupels allows a detailed examination of fire assay practice. The main technical sequence identified is a three-step fusion-scorification-cupellation process, performed on fahlores for their precious metal content, together with a wider range of experimental chymical activities, testing the properties of
smelt noble metal sixteenth_century austria comparative analytical_study aim primarily further technology involve metallurgy precious_metal renaissance combine critical_evaluation historical_text analytical_study contemporary archaeological_remains particular work focus high_temperature process_perform fire smelt ore investigate archaeological case_study sixteenth_century austria small_scale laboratory complete renaissance laboratory ever recover contemporary large_scale gold smelt_site analytical_technique use optical_microscopy x_ray_fluorescence scan_electron microscopy_energy wavelength dispersive spectrometry laboratory study high_temperature residue produce crucible allows detail_examination fire practice main technical sequence identify step fusion process_perform precious_metal content together wider_range experimental activity test property