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Ancient Egyptian gold refining

A reproduction of early techniques

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Abstract

The technique of smelting mined gold ore concentrates reported by Diodorus Siculus as being used in Egypt in the Second Century B.C. has been simulated in the laboratory. A considerable degree of refining was found, comparable with that yielded by the medieval process of cementation with salt, and with a negligible loss of gold.

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Notton, J.H.F. Ancient Egyptian gold refining. Gold Bull 7, 50–56 (1974). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF03215038

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF03215038

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