[Jewelry making - Article 00365] - Re: [Orchid] Silver refining and the Bible

[Ryan Taylor]

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Virginia, 

    A wonderful question, and although most metal smiths would not
    classify as 'refiners' I can only draw a parallel to the look of
    silver when heated to melting temperature in a crucible. The silver
    will become 'watery' a few moments before liquefying and turn into
    shiny molten ball looking much like mercury (for example). 

    Although; "If the silver was left a moment too long in the flames,
    it would be destroyed" is a more curious question, which I do not
    know how to answer. I'm assuming that this silversmith was not
    annealing, casting, fusing, soldering etc. because the story says "a
    piece of silver", "refining silver", "the flames were hottest as to
    burn away all the impurities".  

    I am not familiar with ancient refining techniques but I can't see
    the silver being destroyed, I'm wondering if the 'kiln' produced such
    heat that at some point in the process the silver would re-absorb
    impurities i.e. carbon from the fuel etc. and therefore become
    difficult to work into ingots / forms. The refining process would
    also need to be started over again, with new metal added. 

    Great email! 

Cheers, 
Taylor in Toronto

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