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Metal alloys, matrix inclusions and manufacturing techniques of Moinhos de Golas collection (North Portugal): a study by micro-EDXRF, SEM–EDS, optical microscopy and X-ray radiography

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Abstract

A collection of 35 metallic artefacts comprising various typologies, some of which can be attributed to the Bronze Age and others to later periods, were studied to provide detailed information on elemental composition, manufacturing techniques and preservation state. Elemental analysis by micro-EDXRF and SEM–EDS was performed to investigate the use of different alloys and to study the presence of microstructural heterogeneities, as inclusions. X-ray radiography, optical microscopy and SEM–EDS were used to investigate manufacturing techniques and degradation features. Results showed that most of the artefacts were produced in a binary bronze alloy (Cu–Sn) with 10–15 wt% Sn and a low concentration of impurities. Other artefacts were produced in copper or in brass, the latest with varying contents of Zn, Sn and Pb. A variety of inclusions in the metal matrices were also found, some related to specific types of alloys, as (Cu–Ni)S2 in coppers, or ZnS in brasses. Microstructural observations revealed that the majority of the artefacts were subjected to cycles of thermomechanical processing after casting, being evident that among some artefacts different parts were subjected to distinct treatments. The radiographic images revealed structural heterogeneities related to local corrosion processes and fissures that seem to have developed in wear-tension zones, as in the handle of some daggers. Radiographic images were also useful to detect the use of different materials in one particular brass artefact, revealing the presence of a possible Cu–Sn solder.

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Acknowledgments

This work was funded by FEDER funds through the COMPETE 2020 Programme and National Funds through FCT—Fundação para a Ciência e Tecnologia under the project UID/CTM/50025/2013 to CENIMAT/I3N. C2TN/IST authors gratefully acknowledge the FCT support through the UID/Multi/04349/2013 project. EF acknowledges FCT for the grant SFRH/BPD/97360/2013. JF acknowledge FCT for the grant SFRH/BD/65143/2009. Part of this project has been done in the framework of the FCT project ENARDAS (PTDC/HISARQ/112983/2009).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Departamento de Conservação e Restauro, Faculdade de Ciências e Tecnologia, Universidade NOVA de Lisboa, Quinta da Torre, 2829-516, Caparica, Portugal

    Joana Loureiro

  2. Centro de Investigação em Materiais (CENIMAT/I3N), Departamento de Ciência dos Materiais, Faculdade de Ciências e Tecnologia, Universidade NOVA de Lisboa, Quinta da Torre, 2829-516, Caparica, Portugal

    Elin Figueiredo & Rui J. C. Silva

  3. Centro de Ciências e Tecnologias Nucleares (C2TN), Instituto Superior Técnico, Universidade de Lisboa, Estrada Nacional 10, ao km 139,7, 2695-066, Bobadela LRS, Portugal

    M. Fátima Araújo

  4. Instituto de Ciencias del Patrimonio (Incipit), Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Cientificas (CSIC), Santiago de Compostela, Spain

    João Fonte

  5. Laboratório de Paisagens, Património e Território (Lab2PT/UM), Departamento de História, Universidade do Minho, Campus de Gualtar, 4710-057, Braga, Portugal

    João Fonte & Ana M. S. Bettencourt

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  1. Joana Loureiro
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  2. Elin Figueiredo
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  3. Rui J. C. Silva
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  4. M. Fátima Araújo
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  5. João Fonte
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  6. Ana M. S. Bettencourt
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Correspondence to Elin Figueiredo.

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Loureiro, J., Figueiredo, E., Silva, R.J.C. et al. Metal alloys, matrix inclusions and manufacturing techniques of Moinhos de Golas collection (North Portugal): a study by micro-EDXRF, SEM–EDS, optical microscopy and X-ray radiography. Appl. Phys. A 122, 820 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00339-016-0354-7

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