Front cover image for The Production of Copper-Arsenic Alloys (Arsenic Bronze) by Cosmelting: Modern Experiment, Ancient Practice

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The Production of Copper-Arsenic Alloys (Arsenic Bronze) by Cosmelting: Modern Experiment, Ancient Practice

Cosmelting experiments to produce copper-arsenic alloys were carried out by Lechtman in 1984. The experiments included crucible and furnace smelting techniques utilizing ores collected in the Peruvian Andes. Smelting charges consisted of mixtures of copper oxide ore with either copper sulpharsenide or iron sulpharsenide ore. The experimental furnaces were constructed to resemble furnaces excavated at Batán Grande, a large ore smelting site on the Peruvian north coast where copper-arsenic alloys were produced during the Middle Horizon and later

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