What tool would a Roman-age civilization have for the breaking of silver and other metals into dust?Can Roman-age tech break up harder metals?What effect would a known but lost precursor civilization have on religion and philosophy?What aspects of a creature's hand would make it good for climbing but not good for tool use?What would iron-age tools and weapons be like if they were redesigned with modern metallurgy?What difficulty would the Roman Empire have besieging a fantasy kingdom's 49 m wall?Would a Roman civilization be willing and capable of building large scale sea defences against a serious but unrealised flood threat?If the Romans found one working steam engine would they have been able to copy and use it?What are the traits of and how could a compound(mosquito) eye be used for bug-sized equipmentWhat could have prevented the decline of the Western Roman Empire, and its fall in AD 476?
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What tool would a Roman-age civilization have for the breaking of silver and other metals into dust?
Can Roman-age tech break up harder metals?What effect would a known but lost precursor civilization have on religion and philosophy?What aspects of a creature's hand would make it good for climbing but not good for tool use?What would iron-age tools and weapons be like if they were redesigned with modern metallurgy?What difficulty would the Roman Empire have besieging a fantasy kingdom's 49 m wall?Would a Roman civilization be willing and capable of building large scale sea defences against a serious but unrealised flood threat?If the Romans found one working steam engine would they have been able to copy and use it?What are the traits of and how could a compound(mosquito) eye be used for bug-sized equipmentWhat could have prevented the decline of the Western Roman Empire, and its fall in AD 476?
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Assume a guy who has a lump of silver, and needs to get it into really small pieces. Ideally down to dust level, if possible. The technology level of the society around him is comparable to late-roman (200-400 A.D).
From my research I already know, that they had no real steel, but high quality iron for the use in tools.
How can he produce tiny fragments of metal from a solid chunk?
- Will heating the chunk help?
- What about other (harder) metals, like platinum or tungsten? Any chance with that?
ancient-history tools metalworking
asked Apr 9 at 10:24
openendopenend
2,48011744
$endgroup$
add a comment |
$begingroup$
Assume a guy who has a lump of silver, and needs to get it into really small pieces. Ideally down to dust level, if possible. The technology level of the society around him is comparable to late-roman (200-400 A.D).
From my research I already know, that they had no real steel, but high quality iron for the use in tools.
How can he produce tiny fragments of metal from a solid chunk?
- Will heating the chunk help?
- What about other (harder) metals, like platinum or tungsten? Any chance with that?
ancient-history tools metalworking
asked Apr 9 at 10:24
openendopenend
2,48011744
$endgroup$
2
$begingroup$
The Romans had files and rasps. They also had emery and used it similar to how we use sandpaper today. What I don't understand is why do you think that reducing a lump of silver into dust will make it occupy a smaller volume? Tungsten is not obtainable with pre-modern technology. Platinum can be found in native (= metallic) form, but not in any area remotely accessible by the Romans. As for steel, it is a much longer discussion; they could make "hard iron".
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– AlexP
Apr 9 at 10:37
2
$begingroup$
The word "reduce" in a chemistry/metallurgy context means something quite different from your goal of dividing into small pieces.
$endgroup$
– Chris Stratton
Apr 9 at 23:07
2
$begingroup$
@Itmauve - your edit inserting "grind" into the title erroneously presumes a process other than the one most likely to be applied by knowledgeable metalsmiths
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– Chris Stratton
Apr 10 at 2:30
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@ChrisStratton The simple word ‘turn [into dust]’ might fit better if you were trying to avoid presumptions
$endgroup$
– Liam Morris
Apr 10 at 12:56
$begingroup$
Edited the title
$endgroup$
– openend
Apr 10 at 15:16
add a comment |
$begingroup$
Assume a guy who has a lump of silver, and needs to get it into really small pieces. Ideally down to dust level, if possible. The technology level of the society around him is comparable to late-roman (200-400 A.D).
From my research I already know, that they had no real steel, but high quality iron for the use in tools.
How can he produce tiny fragments of metal from a solid chunk?
- Will heating the chunk help?
- What about other (harder) metals, like platinum or tungsten? Any chance with that?
ancient-history tools metalworking
asked Apr 9 at 10:24
openendopenend
2,48011744
$endgroup$
Assume a guy who has a lump of silver, and needs to get it into really small pieces. Ideally down to dust level, if possible. The technology level of the society around him is comparable to late-roman (200-400 A.D).
From my research I already know, that they had no real steel, but high quality iron for the use in tools.
How can he produce tiny fragments of metal from a solid chunk?
- Will heating the chunk help?
- What about other (harder) metals, like platinum or tungsten? Any chance with that?
ancient-history tools metalworking
ancient-history tools metalworking
asked Apr 9 at 10:24
openendopenend
2,48011744
asked Apr 9 at 10:24
openendopenend
2,48011744
edited Apr 10 at 15:16
openend
asked Apr 9 at 10:24
openendopenend
2,48011744
asked Apr 9 at 10:24
openendopenend
2,48011744
asked Apr 9 at 10:24
openendopenend
2,48011744
2,48011744
2
$begingroup$
The Romans had files and rasps. They also had emery and used it similar to how we use sandpaper today. What I don't understand is why do you think that reducing a lump of silver into dust will make it occupy a smaller volume? Tungsten is not obtainable with pre-modern technology. Platinum can be found in native (= metallic) form, but not in any area remotely accessible by the Romans. As for steel, it is a much longer discussion; they could make "hard iron".
$endgroup$
– AlexP
Apr 9 at 10:37
2
$begingroup$
The word "reduce" in a chemistry/metallurgy context means something quite different from your goal of dividing into small pieces.
$endgroup$
– Chris Stratton
Apr 9 at 23:07
2
$begingroup$
@Itmauve - your edit inserting "grind" into the title erroneously presumes a process other than the one most likely to be applied by knowledgeable metalsmiths
$endgroup$
– Chris Stratton
Apr 10 at 2:30
$begingroup$
@ChrisStratton The simple word ‘turn [into dust]’ might fit better if you were trying to avoid presumptions
$endgroup$
– Liam Morris
Apr 10 at 12:56
$begingroup$
Edited the title
$endgroup$
– openend
Apr 10 at 15:16
add a comment |
2
$begingroup$
The Romans had files and rasps. They also had emery and used it similar to how we use sandpaper today. What I don't understand is why do you think that reducing a lump of silver into dust will make it occupy a smaller volume? Tungsten is not obtainable with pre-modern technology. Platinum can be found in native (= metallic) form, but not in any area remotely accessible by the Romans. As for steel, it is a much longer discussion; they could make "hard iron".
$endgroup$
– AlexP
Apr 9 at 10:37
2
$begingroup$
The word "reduce" in a chemistry/metallurgy context means something quite different from your goal of dividing into small pieces.
$endgroup$
– Chris Stratton
Apr 9 at 23:07
2
$begingroup$
@Itmauve - your edit inserting "grind" into the title erroneously presumes a process other than the one most likely to be applied by knowledgeable metalsmiths
$endgroup$
– Chris Stratton
Apr 10 at 2:30
$begingroup$
@ChrisStratton The simple word ‘turn [into dust]’ might fit better if you were trying to avoid presumptions
$endgroup$
– Liam Morris
Apr 10 at 12:56
$begingroup$
Edited the title
$endgroup$
– openend
Apr 10 at 15:16
2
2
$begingroup$
The Romans had files and rasps. They also had emery and used it similar to how we use sandpaper today. What I don't understand is why do you think that reducing a lump of silver into dust will make it occupy a smaller volume? Tungsten is not obtainable with pre-modern technology. Platinum can be found in native (= metallic) form, but not in any area remotely accessible by the Romans. As for steel, it is a much longer discussion; they could make "hard iron".
$endgroup$
– AlexP
Apr 9 at 10:37
$begingroup$
The Romans had files and rasps. They also had emery and used it similar to how we use sandpaper today. What I don't understand is why do you think that reducing a lump of silver into dust will make it occupy a smaller volume? Tungsten is not obtainable with pre-modern technology. Platinum can be found in native (= metallic) form, but not in any area remotely accessible by the Romans. As for steel, it is a much longer discussion; they could make "hard iron".
$endgroup$
– AlexP
Apr 9 at 10:37
2
2
$begingroup$
The word "reduce" in a chemistry/metallurgy context means something quite different from your goal of dividing into small pieces.
$endgroup$
– Chris Stratton
Apr 9 at 23:07
$begingroup$
The word "reduce" in a chemistry/metallurgy context means something quite different from your goal of dividing into small pieces.
$endgroup$
– Chris Stratton
Apr 9 at 23:07
2
2
$begingroup$
@Itmauve - your edit inserting "grind" into the title erroneously presumes a process other than the one most likely to be applied by knowledgeable metalsmiths
$endgroup$
– Chris Stratton
Apr 10 at 2:30
$begingroup$
@Itmauve - your edit inserting "grind" into the title erroneously presumes a process other than the one most likely to be applied by knowledgeable metalsmiths
$endgroup$
– Chris Stratton
Apr 10 at 2:30
$begingroup$
@ChrisStratton The simple word ‘turn [into dust]’ might fit better if you were trying to avoid presumptions
$endgroup$
– Liam Morris
Apr 10 at 12:56
$begingroup$
@ChrisStratton The simple word ‘turn [into dust]’ might fit better if you were trying to avoid presumptions
$endgroup$
– Liam Morris
Apr 10 at 12:56
$begingroup$
Edited the title
$endgroup$
– openend
Apr 10 at 15:16
$begingroup$
Edited the title
$endgroup$
– openend
Apr 10 at 15:16
add a comment |
6 Answers
6
active
oldest
votes
$begingroup$
Well, one way they could do it is to use a file, essentially a tool-steel bar with an abrasive surface, and rub it against the surface of an ingot of silver. This would produce a relatively fine powder though it would be a painfully long process to get a lot of it. Here is a video showing how The Romans could have made files
Another option is to dissolve some silver in Aqua Regia, a mixture of hydrochloric acid and nitric acid. Adding urea will then consume the residual nitric acid and ferrous sulphate to precipitate fine silver powder which can be filtered out of the solution. Assuming the Romans had access to these chemicals, they could use them in order to create a very fine silver powder. One thing to note, silver is resistant to Aqua Regia at room temperature. In order for the silver to be broken down, the temperature, pressure, or concentration of acid must be changed. Here is a link to an answer on Chemistry.SE which explains it.
answered Apr 9 at 10:46
Liam MorrisLiam Morris
2,972536
$endgroup$
1
$begingroup$
That's not how alchemy is supposed to work, I don't think...
$endgroup$
– nwhaught
Apr 9 at 16:55
7
$begingroup$
If you look at how people obtained red ink or silk in ancient times you will know that they were really up to painfully long processes. No internet and no TV back then made for an awful need for a distraction and laser sharp focus.
$endgroup$
– Renan
Apr 9 at 17:32
7
$begingroup$
@Renan Not just that, often using a painfully long method was the only feasible way to achieve something. For example, in the modern world, if i wanted to sand down a plank of wood, i’d grab a sander and be done in a matter of minutes. If i instead used sand paper, i could be going for hours. In the past, they did not have the option of a sander so were forced to go with the much longer process.
$endgroup$
– Liam Morris
Apr 9 at 17:54
3
$begingroup$
Oil of Vitriol dates back at least to Roman times, but Aqua Fortis doesn't appear to pre-date the Arabic alchemists. That rules out your Aqua Regia method.
$endgroup$
– Mark
Apr 9 at 22:07
1
$begingroup$
@LiamMorris If you don't have a power sander, you use a scraper instead (which in the hands of an expert is not much slower than a sander - and gives a better finish). However the idea behind what you say is right, even if the example wasn't ideal.
$endgroup$
– Martin Bonner
Apr 10 at 17:56
|
show 5 more comments
$begingroup$
Roman age? I can give you a stone age method: Grind it between two rocks.
Silver has a mohs hardness of 2.5. Granite has a mohs hardness of 6-7. So you can use a rough granite stone to grind silver to dust. It might take a while and take some muscle, but it should work.
When you are lazy, you might try to just throw your silver into a grain mill. It should work if the millstones are from a mineral which is harder than silver and if the mechanics are sturdy enough to handle the stress. The Romans had water-powered mills since the 1st century.
answered Apr 9 at 12:37
PhilippPhilipp
32.1k1267123
$endgroup$
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Grinding (And/or pounding with rocks to break stuff up into smaller chunks that a grind stone can manage better) would be the most sensible course. Stone tools are highly effective.
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– TheLuckless
Apr 9 at 15:30
3
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I doubt whether grinding would work, since it is quite malleable. It might well just smear between your stones.
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– jamesqf
Apr 9 at 16:29
8
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Silver powder was actually used by Romans and earlier civilisations. But it was produced by grinding ore containing silver between two large stones, not starting from a block of refined silver. I still think this method would work though.
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– K Mo
Apr 9 at 18:09
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Don't use a granite rock, use a mortar and pestle.
$endgroup$
– arp
Apr 19 at 23:29
add a comment |
$begingroup$
The trip hammer was historically used for this
First, this process is called comminution. In the most ancient of days, to break up an ore into small chunks to work it in a forge, you simply hit it with a rock hammer. Eventually, the process improved until some sort of mechanical power could be applied: enter the trip hammer.
Image source.
A water-powered trip hammer is essentially a very large hammer, mounted on a fulcrum, with one end (the helve) moved by a cam. The cam is in turn driven by a water wheel. Alternative, you could have a donkey or ox provide the motive force, though there isn't a lot of evidence that this happened. There is significant mechanical loss in older mechanical systems, lubricated with animal fat and made of wood. A donkey powered trip hammer probably provided no mechanical advantage to a slave with a sledgehammer.
The trip hammer was used for exactly the case you describe, pulverizing rocks to find gravel. The gravel could then be reduced in a furnace to extract valuable materials. This is historically how copper, tin, silver, and gold (along with rarer metals like antimony) were extracted and refined from ore.
As far as hardness goes; don't even worry about it. You can break up rocks using other rocks. Find a polish the hardest rock you can get, and use it as your hammer head. When it breaks, replace. In Roman times in the 4th century AD in Britain, there is an find of large iron hammer heads used for pounding ore.
The water-powered trip hammer is certainly in use in Han China by the first century BC. It is potentially in use in China several hundred years earlier, and there is sporadic evidence that it was used in the Roman empire from the 1st to 4th century AD. It returned to Europe in the 12th century where it achieved its widest use; and the mechanical principles behind its operation were crucial to the Industrial Revolution.
An alternative, used often in the Islamic world with limited access to waterpower, was the stamp mill, though this was not attested until the 10th century in Central Asia. However, creating a stamp mill is feasible with a Roman/Classical-era technology level.
answered Apr 9 at 13:30
kingledionkingledion
75.8k26249443
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add a comment |
$begingroup$
Several possibilities:
- You could heat the silver, beat it into a thin plate, and then cut it into small pieces using scissors or a knife.
- You could probably use a file or iron or stone to grind the silver to dust, since silver is less hard than iron, not to mention stone.
- You could melt the silver and make it drip into water and collect the droplets.
answered Apr 9 at 10:34
Klaus Æ. MogensenKlaus Æ. Mogensen
1,9381511
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1
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They had files and rasps and emery and corundum...
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– AlexP
Apr 9 at 10:37
4
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Nice, i like the droplet idea, might be small enough for my purposes. Thanks!
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– openend
Apr 9 at 10:43
6
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re: droplet idea en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shot_tower
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– aaaaaa
Apr 9 at 20:33
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You don't even need to heat it. I saw silver being beaten into leaf on a Rick Stein cooking show by two guys with what looked like wooden hammers. (they were putting it on top of a kind of custard as a garnish)
$endgroup$
– Adam Eberbach
Apr 10 at 1:04
add a comment |
$begingroup$
Cupellation: https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cupellation
Cupellation is the process of heating ores to separate noble metals (silver, gold, etc) from them. Silver is pretty reactive so finding silver by itself in nature is kind a hard so you are more likely to find it bonded with something like lead.
If your silver is still one solid chunk then all you need to do is heat it in a furnace and then cut or hammer it into smaller pieces. Or pour the molten silver into multiple canals that lead to multiple molds. Silver is a pretty easy metal to work with compared to iron and the Romans where already knowledgeable in iron working (Celts were better smiths however)
Smelting silver and silver working has been around since the bronze age so to someone with Roman tech smelting silver is a easy process. Heck the Romans where able to make alloys like pewter.
answered Apr 9 at 11:47
Celestial Dragon EmperorCelestial Dragon Emperor
3,06031744
$endgroup$
add a comment |
$begingroup$
Silver can be formed into leaf almost as thin as gold with primitive technology. This is easy to break up.
Also with a few earthenware jars and dissimilar metal electrodes you could generate colloidal silver. This is of atomic particle size so that should be small enough for you. granted it will take some work to process a few ounces.
answered Apr 10 at 0:03
KalleMPKalleMP
57449
$endgroup$
add a comment |
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6 Answers
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active
oldest
votes
6 Answers
6
active
oldest
votes
active
oldest
votes
active
oldest
votes
$begingroup$
Well, one way they could do it is to use a file, essentially a tool-steel bar with an abrasive surface, and rub it against the surface of an ingot of silver. This would produce a relatively fine powder though it would be a painfully long process to get a lot of it. Here is a video showing how The Romans could have made files
Another option is to dissolve some silver in Aqua Regia, a mixture of hydrochloric acid and nitric acid. Adding urea will then consume the residual nitric acid and ferrous sulphate to precipitate fine silver powder which can be filtered out of the solution. Assuming the Romans had access to these chemicals, they could use them in order to create a very fine silver powder. One thing to note, silver is resistant to Aqua Regia at room temperature. In order for the silver to be broken down, the temperature, pressure, or concentration of acid must be changed. Here is a link to an answer on Chemistry.SE which explains it.
answered Apr 9 at 10:46
Liam MorrisLiam Morris
2,972536
$endgroup$
1
$begingroup$
That's not how alchemy is supposed to work, I don't think...
$endgroup$
– nwhaught
Apr 9 at 16:55
7
$begingroup$
If you look at how people obtained red ink or silk in ancient times you will know that they were really up to painfully long processes. No internet and no TV back then made for an awful need for a distraction and laser sharp focus.
$endgroup$
– Renan
Apr 9 at 17:32
7
$begingroup$
@Renan Not just that, often using a painfully long method was the only feasible way to achieve something. For example, in the modern world, if i wanted to sand down a plank of wood, i’d grab a sander and be done in a matter of minutes. If i instead used sand paper, i could be going for hours. In the past, they did not have the option of a sander so were forced to go with the much longer process.
$endgroup$
– Liam Morris
Apr 9 at 17:54
3
$begingroup$
Oil of Vitriol dates back at least to Roman times, but Aqua Fortis doesn't appear to pre-date the Arabic alchemists. That rules out your Aqua Regia method.
$endgroup$
– Mark
Apr 9 at 22:07
1
$begingroup$
@LiamMorris If you don't have a power sander, you use a scraper instead (which in the hands of an expert is not much slower than a sander - and gives a better finish). However the idea behind what you say is right, even if the example wasn't ideal.
$endgroup$
– Martin Bonner
Apr 10 at 17:56
|
show 5 more comments
$begingroup$
Well, one way they could do it is to use a file, essentially a tool-steel bar with an abrasive surface, and rub it against the surface of an ingot of silver. This would produce a relatively fine powder though it would be a painfully long process to get a lot of it. Here is a video showing how The Romans could have made files
Another option is to dissolve some silver in Aqua Regia, a mixture of hydrochloric acid and nitric acid. Adding urea will then consume the residual nitric acid and ferrous sulphate to precipitate fine silver powder which can be filtered out of the solution. Assuming the Romans had access to these chemicals, they could use them in order to create a very fine silver powder. One thing to note, silver is resistant to Aqua Regia at room temperature. In order for the silver to be broken down, the temperature, pressure, or concentration of acid must be changed. Here is a link to an answer on Chemistry.SE which explains it.
answered Apr 9 at 10:46
Liam MorrisLiam Morris
2,972536
$endgroup$
1
$begingroup$
That's not how alchemy is supposed to work, I don't think...
$endgroup$
– nwhaught
Apr 9 at 16:55
7
$begingroup$
If you look at how people obtained red ink or silk in ancient times you will know that they were really up to painfully long processes. No internet and no TV back then made for an awful need for a distraction and laser sharp focus.
$endgroup$
– Renan
Apr 9 at 17:32
7
$begingroup$
@Renan Not just that, often using a painfully long method was the only feasible way to achieve something. For example, in the modern world, if i wanted to sand down a plank of wood, i’d grab a sander and be done in a matter of minutes. If i instead used sand paper, i could be going for hours. In the past, they did not have the option of a sander so were forced to go with the much longer process.
$endgroup$
– Liam Morris
Apr 9 at 17:54
3
$begingroup$
Oil of Vitriol dates back at least to Roman times, but Aqua Fortis doesn't appear to pre-date the Arabic alchemists. That rules out your Aqua Regia method.
$endgroup$
– Mark
Apr 9 at 22:07
1
$begingroup$
@LiamMorris If you don't have a power sander, you use a scraper instead (which in the hands of an expert is not much slower than a sander - and gives a better finish). However the idea behind what you say is right, even if the example wasn't ideal.
$endgroup$
– Martin Bonner
Apr 10 at 17:56
|
show 5 more comments
$begingroup$
Well, one way they could do it is to use a file, essentially a tool-steel bar with an abrasive surface, and rub it against the surface of an ingot of silver. This would produce a relatively fine powder though it would be a painfully long process to get a lot of it. Here is a video showing how The Romans could have made files
Another option is to dissolve some silver in Aqua Regia, a mixture of hydrochloric acid and nitric acid. Adding urea will then consume the residual nitric acid and ferrous sulphate to precipitate fine silver powder which can be filtered out of the solution. Assuming the Romans had access to these chemicals, they could use them in order to create a very fine silver powder. One thing to note, silver is resistant to Aqua Regia at room temperature. In order for the silver to be broken down, the temperature, pressure, or concentration of acid must be changed. Here is a link to an answer on Chemistry.SE which explains it.
answered Apr 9 at 10:46
Liam MorrisLiam Morris
2,972536
$endgroup$
Well, one way they could do it is to use a file, essentially a tool-steel bar with an abrasive surface, and rub it against the surface of an ingot of silver. This would produce a relatively fine powder though it would be a painfully long process to get a lot of it. Here is a video showing how The Romans could have made files
Another option is to dissolve some silver in Aqua Regia, a mixture of hydrochloric acid and nitric acid. Adding urea will then consume the residual nitric acid and ferrous sulphate to precipitate fine silver powder which can be filtered out of the solution. Assuming the Romans had access to these chemicals, they could use them in order to create a very fine silver powder. One thing to note, silver is resistant to Aqua Regia at room temperature. In order for the silver to be broken down, the temperature, pressure, or concentration of acid must be changed. Here is a link to an answer on Chemistry.SE which explains it.
answered Apr 9 at 10:46
Liam MorrisLiam Morris
2,972536
edited Apr 10 at 6:41
answered Apr 9 at 10:46
Liam MorrisLiam Morris
2,972536
answered Apr 9 at 10:46
Liam MorrisLiam Morris
2,972536
answered Apr 9 at 10:46
Liam MorrisLiam Morris
2,972536
2,972536
1
$begingroup$
That's not how alchemy is supposed to work, I don't think...
$endgroup$
– nwhaught
Apr 9 at 16:55
7
$begingroup$
If you look at how people obtained red ink or silk in ancient times you will know that they were really up to painfully long processes. No internet and no TV back then made for an awful need for a distraction and laser sharp focus.
$endgroup$
– Renan
Apr 9 at 17:32
7
$begingroup$
@Renan Not just that, often using a painfully long method was the only feasible way to achieve something. For example, in the modern world, if i wanted to sand down a plank of wood, i’d grab a sander and be done in a matter of minutes. If i instead used sand paper, i could be going for hours. In the past, they did not have the option of a sander so were forced to go with the much longer process.
$endgroup$
– Liam Morris
Apr 9 at 17:54
3
$begingroup$
Oil of Vitriol dates back at least to Roman times, but Aqua Fortis doesn't appear to pre-date the Arabic alchemists. That rules out your Aqua Regia method.
$endgroup$
– Mark
Apr 9 at 22:07
1
$begingroup$
@LiamMorris If you don't have a power sander, you use a scraper instead (which in the hands of an expert is not much slower than a sander - and gives a better finish). However the idea behind what you say is right, even if the example wasn't ideal.
$endgroup$
– Martin Bonner
Apr 10 at 17:56
|
show 5 more comments
1
$begingroup$
That's not how alchemy is supposed to work, I don't think...
$endgroup$
– nwhaught
Apr 9 at 16:55
7
$begingroup$
If you look at how people obtained red ink or silk in ancient times you will know that they were really up to painfully long processes. No internet and no TV back then made for an awful need for a distraction and laser sharp focus.
$endgroup$
– Renan
Apr 9 at 17:32
7
$begingroup$
@Renan Not just that, often using a painfully long method was the only feasible way to achieve something. For example, in the modern world, if i wanted to sand down a plank of wood, i’d grab a sander and be done in a matter of minutes. If i instead used sand paper, i could be going for hours. In the past, they did not have the option of a sander so were forced to go with the much longer process.
$endgroup$
– Liam Morris
Apr 9 at 17:54
3
$begingroup$
Oil of Vitriol dates back at least to Roman times, but Aqua Fortis doesn't appear to pre-date the Arabic alchemists. That rules out your Aqua Regia method.
$endgroup$
– Mark
Apr 9 at 22:07
1
$begingroup$
@LiamMorris If you don't have a power sander, you use a scraper instead (which in the hands of an expert is not much slower than a sander - and gives a better finish). However the idea behind what you say is right, even if the example wasn't ideal.
$endgroup$
– Martin Bonner
Apr 10 at 17:56
1
1
$begingroup$
That's not how alchemy is supposed to work, I don't think...
$endgroup$
– nwhaught
Apr 9 at 16:55
$begingroup$
That's not how alchemy is supposed to work, I don't think...
$endgroup$
– nwhaught
Apr 9 at 16:55
7
7
$begingroup$
If you look at how people obtained red ink or silk in ancient times you will know that they were really up to painfully long processes. No internet and no TV back then made for an awful need for a distraction and laser sharp focus.
$endgroup$
– Renan
Apr 9 at 17:32
$begingroup$
If you look at how people obtained red ink or silk in ancient times you will know that they were really up to painfully long processes. No internet and no TV back then made for an awful need for a distraction and laser sharp focus.
$endgroup$
– Renan
Apr 9 at 17:32
7
7
$begingroup$
@Renan Not just that, often using a painfully long method was the only feasible way to achieve something. For example, in the modern world, if i wanted to sand down a plank of wood, i’d grab a sander and be done in a matter of minutes. If i instead used sand paper, i could be going for hours. In the past, they did not have the option of a sander so were forced to go with the much longer process.
$endgroup$
– Liam Morris
Apr 9 at 17:54
$begingroup$
@Renan Not just that, often using a painfully long method was the only feasible way to achieve something. For example, in the modern world, if i wanted to sand down a plank of wood, i’d grab a sander and be done in a matter of minutes. If i instead used sand paper, i could be going for hours. In the past, they did not have the option of a sander so were forced to go with the much longer process.
$endgroup$
– Liam Morris
Apr 9 at 17:54
3
3
$begingroup$
Oil of Vitriol dates back at least to Roman times, but Aqua Fortis doesn't appear to pre-date the Arabic alchemists. That rules out your Aqua Regia method.
$endgroup$
– Mark
Apr 9 at 22:07
$begingroup$
Oil of Vitriol dates back at least to Roman times, but Aqua Fortis doesn't appear to pre-date the Arabic alchemists. That rules out your Aqua Regia method.
$endgroup$
– Mark
Apr 9 at 22:07
1
1
$begingroup$
@LiamMorris If you don't have a power sander, you use a scraper instead (which in the hands of an expert is not much slower than a sander - and gives a better finish). However the idea behind what you say is right, even if the example wasn't ideal.
$endgroup$
– Martin Bonner
Apr 10 at 17:56
$begingroup$
@LiamMorris If you don't have a power sander, you use a scraper instead (which in the hands of an expert is not much slower than a sander - and gives a better finish). However the idea behind what you say is right, even if the example wasn't ideal.
$endgroup$
– Martin Bonner
Apr 10 at 17:56
|
show 5 more comments
$begingroup$
Roman age? I can give you a stone age method: Grind it between two rocks.
Silver has a mohs hardness of 2.5. Granite has a mohs hardness of 6-7. So you can use a rough granite stone to grind silver to dust. It might take a while and take some muscle, but it should work.
When you are lazy, you might try to just throw your silver into a grain mill. It should work if the millstones are from a mineral which is harder than silver and if the mechanics are sturdy enough to handle the stress. The Romans had water-powered mills since the 1st century.
answered Apr 9 at 12:37
PhilippPhilipp
32.1k1267123
$endgroup$
$begingroup$
Grinding (And/or pounding with rocks to break stuff up into smaller chunks that a grind stone can manage better) would be the most sensible course. Stone tools are highly effective.
$endgroup$
– TheLuckless
Apr 9 at 15:30
3
$begingroup$
I doubt whether grinding would work, since it is quite malleable. It might well just smear between your stones.
$endgroup$
– jamesqf
Apr 9 at 16:29
8
$begingroup$
Silver powder was actually used by Romans and earlier civilisations. But it was produced by grinding ore containing silver between two large stones, not starting from a block of refined silver. I still think this method would work though.
$endgroup$
– K Mo
Apr 9 at 18:09
$begingroup$
Don't use a granite rock, use a mortar and pestle.
$endgroup$
– arp
Apr 19 at 23:29
add a comment |
$begingroup$
Roman age? I can give you a stone age method: Grind it between two rocks.
Silver has a mohs hardness of 2.5. Granite has a mohs hardness of 6-7. So you can use a rough granite stone to grind silver to dust. It might take a while and take some muscle, but it should work.
When you are lazy, you might try to just throw your silver into a grain mill. It should work if the millstones are from a mineral which is harder than silver and if the mechanics are sturdy enough to handle the stress. The Romans had water-powered mills since the 1st century.
answered Apr 9 at 12:37
PhilippPhilipp
32.1k1267123
$endgroup$
$begingroup$
Grinding (And/or pounding with rocks to break stuff up into smaller chunks that a grind stone can manage better) would be the most sensible course. Stone tools are highly effective.
$endgroup$
– TheLuckless
Apr 9 at 15:30
3
$begingroup$
I doubt whether grinding would work, since it is quite malleable. It might well just smear between your stones.
$endgroup$
– jamesqf
Apr 9 at 16:29
8
$begingroup$
Silver powder was actually used by Romans and earlier civilisations. But it was produced by grinding ore containing silver between two large stones, not starting from a block of refined silver. I still think this method would work though.
$endgroup$
– K Mo
Apr 9 at 18:09
$begingroup$
Don't use a granite rock, use a mortar and pestle.
$endgroup$
– arp
Apr 19 at 23:29
add a comment |
$begingroup$
Roman age? I can give you a stone age method: Grind it between two rocks.
Silver has a mohs hardness of 2.5. Granite has a mohs hardness of 6-7. So you can use a rough granite stone to grind silver to dust. It might take a while and take some muscle, but it should work.
When you are lazy, you might try to just throw your silver into a grain mill. It should work if the millstones are from a mineral which is harder than silver and if the mechanics are sturdy enough to handle the stress. The Romans had water-powered mills since the 1st century.
answered Apr 9 at 12:37
PhilippPhilipp
32.1k1267123
$endgroup$
Roman age? I can give you a stone age method: Grind it between two rocks.
Silver has a mohs hardness of 2.5. Granite has a mohs hardness of 6-7. So you can use a rough granite stone to grind silver to dust. It might take a while and take some muscle, but it should work.
When you are lazy, you might try to just throw your silver into a grain mill. It should work if the millstones are from a mineral which is harder than silver and if the mechanics are sturdy enough to handle the stress. The Romans had water-powered mills since the 1st century.
answered Apr 9 at 12:37
PhilippPhilipp
32.1k1267123
edited Apr 9 at 12:59
answered Apr 9 at 12:37
PhilippPhilipp
32.1k1267123
answered Apr 9 at 12:37
PhilippPhilipp
32.1k1267123
answered Apr 9 at 12:37
PhilippPhilipp
32.1k1267123
32.1k1267123
$begingroup$
Grinding (And/or pounding with rocks to break stuff up into smaller chunks that a grind stone can manage better) would be the most sensible course. Stone tools are highly effective.
$endgroup$
– TheLuckless
Apr 9 at 15:30
3
$begingroup$
I doubt whether grinding would work, since it is quite malleable. It might well just smear between your stones.
$endgroup$
– jamesqf
Apr 9 at 16:29
8
$begingroup$
Silver powder was actually used by Romans and earlier civilisations. But it was produced by grinding ore containing silver between two large stones, not starting from a block of refined silver. I still think this method would work though.
$endgroup$
– K Mo
Apr 9 at 18:09
$begingroup$
Don't use a granite rock, use a mortar and pestle.
$endgroup$
– arp
Apr 19 at 23:29
add a comment |
$begingroup$
Grinding (And/or pounding with rocks to break stuff up into smaller chunks that a grind stone can manage better) would be the most sensible course. Stone tools are highly effective.
$endgroup$
– TheLuckless
Apr 9 at 15:30
3
$begingroup$
I doubt whether grinding would work, since it is quite malleable. It might well just smear between your stones.
$endgroup$
– jamesqf
Apr 9 at 16:29
8
$begingroup$
Silver powder was actually used by Romans and earlier civilisations. But it was produced by grinding ore containing silver between two large stones, not starting from a block of refined silver. I still think this method would work though.
$endgroup$
– K Mo
Apr 9 at 18:09
$begingroup$
Don't use a granite rock, use a mortar and pestle.
$endgroup$
– arp
Apr 19 at 23:29
$begingroup$
Grinding (And/or pounding with rocks to break stuff up into smaller chunks that a grind stone can manage better) would be the most sensible course. Stone tools are highly effective.
$endgroup$
– TheLuckless
Apr 9 at 15:30
$begingroup$
Grinding (And/or pounding with rocks to break stuff up into smaller chunks that a grind stone can manage better) would be the most sensible course. Stone tools are highly effective.
$endgroup$
– TheLuckless
Apr 9 at 15:30
3
3
$begingroup$
I doubt whether grinding would work, since it is quite malleable. It might well just smear between your stones.
$endgroup$
– jamesqf
Apr 9 at 16:29
$begingroup$
I doubt whether grinding would work, since it is quite malleable. It might well just smear between your stones.
$endgroup$
– jamesqf
Apr 9 at 16:29
8
8
$begingroup$
Silver powder was actually used by Romans and earlier civilisations. But it was produced by grinding ore containing silver between two large stones, not starting from a block of refined silver. I still think this method would work though.
$endgroup$
– K Mo
Apr 9 at 18:09
$begingroup$
Silver powder was actually used by Romans and earlier civilisations. But it was produced by grinding ore containing silver between two large stones, not starting from a block of refined silver. I still think this method would work though.
$endgroup$
– K Mo
Apr 9 at 18:09
$begingroup$
Don't use a granite rock, use a mortar and pestle.
$endgroup$
– arp
Apr 19 at 23:29
$begingroup$
Don't use a granite rock, use a mortar and pestle.
$endgroup$
– arp
Apr 19 at 23:29
add a comment |
$begingroup$
The trip hammer was historically used for this
First, this process is called comminution. In the most ancient of days, to break up an ore into small chunks to work it in a forge, you simply hit it with a rock hammer. Eventually, the process improved until some sort of mechanical power could be applied: enter the trip hammer.
Image source.
A water-powered trip hammer is essentially a very large hammer, mounted on a fulcrum, with one end (the helve) moved by a cam. The cam is in turn driven by a water wheel. Alternative, you could have a donkey or ox provide the motive force, though there isn't a lot of evidence that this happened. There is significant mechanical loss in older mechanical systems, lubricated with animal fat and made of wood. A donkey powered trip hammer probably provided no mechanical advantage to a slave with a sledgehammer.
The trip hammer was used for exactly the case you describe, pulverizing rocks to find gravel. The gravel could then be reduced in a furnace to extract valuable materials. This is historically how copper, tin, silver, and gold (along with rarer metals like antimony) were extracted and refined from ore.
As far as hardness goes; don't even worry about it. You can break up rocks using other rocks. Find a polish the hardest rock you can get, and use it as your hammer head. When it breaks, replace. In Roman times in the 4th century AD in Britain, there is an find of large iron hammer heads used for pounding ore.
The water-powered trip hammer is certainly in use in Han China by the first century BC. It is potentially in use in China several hundred years earlier, and there is sporadic evidence that it was used in the Roman empire from the 1st to 4th century AD. It returned to Europe in the 12th century where it achieved its widest use; and the mechanical principles behind its operation were crucial to the Industrial Revolution.
An alternative, used often in the Islamic world with limited access to waterpower, was the stamp mill, though this was not attested until the 10th century in Central Asia. However, creating a stamp mill is feasible with a Roman/Classical-era technology level.
answered Apr 9 at 13:30
kingledionkingledion
75.8k26249443
$endgroup$
add a comment |
$begingroup$
The trip hammer was historically used for this
First, this process is called comminution. In the most ancient of days, to break up an ore into small chunks to work it in a forge, you simply hit it with a rock hammer. Eventually, the process improved until some sort of mechanical power could be applied: enter the trip hammer.
Image source.
A water-powered trip hammer is essentially a very large hammer, mounted on a fulcrum, with one end (the helve) moved by a cam. The cam is in turn driven by a water wheel. Alternative, you could have a donkey or ox provide the motive force, though there isn't a lot of evidence that this happened. There is significant mechanical loss in older mechanical systems, lubricated with animal fat and made of wood. A donkey powered trip hammer probably provided no mechanical advantage to a slave with a sledgehammer.
The trip hammer was used for exactly the case you describe, pulverizing rocks to find gravel. The gravel could then be reduced in a furnace to extract valuable materials. This is historically how copper, tin, silver, and gold (along with rarer metals like antimony) were extracted and refined from ore.
As far as hardness goes; don't even worry about it. You can break up rocks using other rocks. Find a polish the hardest rock you can get, and use it as your hammer head. When it breaks, replace. In Roman times in the 4th century AD in Britain, there is an find of large iron hammer heads used for pounding ore.
The water-powered trip hammer is certainly in use in Han China by the first century BC. It is potentially in use in China several hundred years earlier, and there is sporadic evidence that it was used in the Roman empire from the 1st to 4th century AD. It returned to Europe in the 12th century where it achieved its widest use; and the mechanical principles behind its operation were crucial to the Industrial Revolution.
An alternative, used often in the Islamic world with limited access to waterpower, was the stamp mill, though this was not attested until the 10th century in Central Asia. However, creating a stamp mill is feasible with a Roman/Classical-era technology level.
answered Apr 9 at 13:30
kingledionkingledion
75.8k26249443
$endgroup$
add a comment |
$begingroup$
The trip hammer was historically used for this
First, this process is called comminution. In the most ancient of days, to break up an ore into small chunks to work it in a forge, you simply hit it with a rock hammer. Eventually, the process improved until some sort of mechanical power could be applied: enter the trip hammer.
Image source.
A water-powered trip hammer is essentially a very large hammer, mounted on a fulcrum, with one end (the helve) moved by a cam. The cam is in turn driven by a water wheel. Alternative, you could have a donkey or ox provide the motive force, though there isn't a lot of evidence that this happened. There is significant mechanical loss in older mechanical systems, lubricated with animal fat and made of wood. A donkey powered trip hammer probably provided no mechanical advantage to a slave with a sledgehammer.
The trip hammer was used for exactly the case you describe, pulverizing rocks to find gravel. The gravel could then be reduced in a furnace to extract valuable materials. This is historically how copper, tin, silver, and gold (along with rarer metals like antimony) were extracted and refined from ore.
As far as hardness goes; don't even worry about it. You can break up rocks using other rocks. Find a polish the hardest rock you can get, and use it as your hammer head. When it breaks, replace. In Roman times in the 4th century AD in Britain, there is an find of large iron hammer heads used for pounding ore.
The water-powered trip hammer is certainly in use in Han China by the first century BC. It is potentially in use in China several hundred years earlier, and there is sporadic evidence that it was used in the Roman empire from the 1st to 4th century AD. It returned to Europe in the 12th century where it achieved its widest use; and the mechanical principles behind its operation were crucial to the Industrial Revolution.
An alternative, used often in the Islamic world with limited access to waterpower, was the stamp mill, though this was not attested until the 10th century in Central Asia. However, creating a stamp mill is feasible with a Roman/Classical-era technology level.
answered Apr 9 at 13:30
kingledionkingledion
75.8k26249443
$endgroup$
The trip hammer was historically used for this
First, this process is called comminution. In the most ancient of days, to break up an ore into small chunks to work it in a forge, you simply hit it with a rock hammer. Eventually, the process improved until some sort of mechanical power could be applied: enter the trip hammer.
Image source.
A water-powered trip hammer is essentially a very large hammer, mounted on a fulcrum, with one end (the helve) moved by a cam. The cam is in turn driven by a water wheel. Alternative, you could have a donkey or ox provide the motive force, though there isn't a lot of evidence that this happened. There is significant mechanical loss in older mechanical systems, lubricated with animal fat and made of wood. A donkey powered trip hammer probably provided no mechanical advantage to a slave with a sledgehammer.
The trip hammer was used for exactly the case you describe, pulverizing rocks to find gravel. The gravel could then be reduced in a furnace to extract valuable materials. This is historically how copper, tin, silver, and gold (along with rarer metals like antimony) were extracted and refined from ore.
As far as hardness goes; don't even worry about it. You can break up rocks using other rocks. Find a polish the hardest rock you can get, and use it as your hammer head. When it breaks, replace. In Roman times in the 4th century AD in Britain, there is an find of large iron hammer heads used for pounding ore.
The water-powered trip hammer is certainly in use in Han China by the first century BC. It is potentially in use in China several hundred years earlier, and there is sporadic evidence that it was used in the Roman empire from the 1st to 4th century AD. It returned to Europe in the 12th century where it achieved its widest use; and the mechanical principles behind its operation were crucial to the Industrial Revolution.
An alternative, used often in the Islamic world with limited access to waterpower, was the stamp mill, though this was not attested until the 10th century in Central Asia. However, creating a stamp mill is feasible with a Roman/Classical-era technology level.
answered Apr 9 at 13:30
kingledionkingledion
75.8k26249443
edited Apr 9 at 13:46
answered Apr 9 at 13:30
kingledionkingledion
75.8k26249443
answered Apr 9 at 13:30
kingledionkingledion
75.8k26249443
answered Apr 9 at 13:30
kingledionkingledion
75.8k26249443
75.8k26249443
add a comment |
add a comment |
$begingroup$
Several possibilities:
- You could heat the silver, beat it into a thin plate, and then cut it into small pieces using scissors or a knife.
- You could probably use a file or iron or stone to grind the silver to dust, since silver is less hard than iron, not to mention stone.
- You could melt the silver and make it drip into water and collect the droplets.
answered Apr 9 at 10:34
Klaus Æ. MogensenKlaus Æ. Mogensen
1,9381511
$endgroup$
1
$begingroup$
They had files and rasps and emery and corundum...
$endgroup$
– AlexP
Apr 9 at 10:37
4
$begingroup$
Nice, i like the droplet idea, might be small enough for my purposes. Thanks!
$endgroup$
– openend
Apr 9 at 10:43
6
$begingroup$
re: droplet idea en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shot_tower
$endgroup$
– aaaaaa
Apr 9 at 20:33
$begingroup$
You don't even need to heat it. I saw silver being beaten into leaf on a Rick Stein cooking show by two guys with what looked like wooden hammers. (they were putting it on top of a kind of custard as a garnish)
$endgroup$
– Adam Eberbach
Apr 10 at 1:04
add a comment |
$begingroup$
Several possibilities:
- You could heat the silver, beat it into a thin plate, and then cut it into small pieces using scissors or a knife.
- You could probably use a file or iron or stone to grind the silver to dust, since silver is less hard than iron, not to mention stone.
- You could melt the silver and make it drip into water and collect the droplets.
answered Apr 9 at 10:34
Klaus Æ. MogensenKlaus Æ. Mogensen
1,9381511
$endgroup$
1
$begingroup$
They had files and rasps and emery and corundum...
$endgroup$
– AlexP
Apr 9 at 10:37
4
$begingroup$
Nice, i like the droplet idea, might be small enough for my purposes. Thanks!
$endgroup$
– openend
Apr 9 at 10:43
6
$begingroup$
re: droplet idea en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shot_tower
$endgroup$
– aaaaaa
Apr 9 at 20:33
$begingroup$
You don't even need to heat it. I saw silver being beaten into leaf on a Rick Stein cooking show by two guys with what looked like wooden hammers. (they were putting it on top of a kind of custard as a garnish)
$endgroup$
– Adam Eberbach
Apr 10 at 1:04
add a comment |
$begingroup$
Several possibilities:
- You could heat the silver, beat it into a thin plate, and then cut it into small pieces using scissors or a knife.
- You could probably use a file or iron or stone to grind the silver to dust, since silver is less hard than iron, not to mention stone.
- You could melt the silver and make it drip into water and collect the droplets.
answered Apr 9 at 10:34
Klaus Æ. MogensenKlaus Æ. Mogensen
1,9381511
$endgroup$
Several possibilities:
- You could heat the silver, beat it into a thin plate, and then cut it into small pieces using scissors or a knife.
- You could probably use a file or iron or stone to grind the silver to dust, since silver is less hard than iron, not to mention stone.
- You could melt the silver and make it drip into water and collect the droplets.
answered Apr 9 at 10:34
Klaus Æ. MogensenKlaus Æ. Mogensen
1,9381511
answered Apr 9 at 10:34
Klaus Æ. MogensenKlaus Æ. Mogensen
1,9381511
answered Apr 9 at 10:34
Klaus Æ. MogensenKlaus Æ. Mogensen
1,9381511
answered Apr 9 at 10:34
Klaus Æ. MogensenKlaus Æ. Mogensen
1,9381511
1,9381511
1
$begingroup$
They had files and rasps and emery and corundum...
$endgroup$
– AlexP
Apr 9 at 10:37
4
$begingroup$
Nice, i like the droplet idea, might be small enough for my purposes. Thanks!
$endgroup$
– openend
Apr 9 at 10:43
6
$begingroup$
re: droplet idea en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shot_tower
$endgroup$
– aaaaaa
Apr 9 at 20:33
$begingroup$
You don't even need to heat it. I saw silver being beaten into leaf on a Rick Stein cooking show by two guys with what looked like wooden hammers. (they were putting it on top of a kind of custard as a garnish)
$endgroup$
– Adam Eberbach
Apr 10 at 1:04
add a comment |
1
$begingroup$
They had files and rasps and emery and corundum...
$endgroup$
– AlexP
Apr 9 at 10:37
4
$begingroup$
Nice, i like the droplet idea, might be small enough for my purposes. Thanks!
$endgroup$
– openend
Apr 9 at 10:43
6
$begingroup$
re: droplet idea en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shot_tower
$endgroup$
– aaaaaa
Apr 9 at 20:33
$begingroup$
You don't even need to heat it. I saw silver being beaten into leaf on a Rick Stein cooking show by two guys with what looked like wooden hammers. (they were putting it on top of a kind of custard as a garnish)
$endgroup$
– Adam Eberbach
Apr 10 at 1:04
1
1
$begingroup$
They had files and rasps and emery and corundum...
$endgroup$
– AlexP
Apr 9 at 10:37
$begingroup$
They had files and rasps and emery and corundum...
$endgroup$
– AlexP
Apr 9 at 10:37
4
4
$begingroup$
Nice, i like the droplet idea, might be small enough for my purposes. Thanks!
$endgroup$
– openend
Apr 9 at 10:43
$begingroup$
Nice, i like the droplet idea, might be small enough for my purposes. Thanks!
$endgroup$
– openend
Apr 9 at 10:43
6
6
$begingroup$
re: droplet idea en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shot_tower
$endgroup$
– aaaaaa
Apr 9 at 20:33
$begingroup$
re: droplet idea en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shot_tower
$endgroup$
– aaaaaa
Apr 9 at 20:33
$begingroup$
You don't even need to heat it. I saw silver being beaten into leaf on a Rick Stein cooking show by two guys with what looked like wooden hammers. (they were putting it on top of a kind of custard as a garnish)
$endgroup$
– Adam Eberbach
Apr 10 at 1:04
$begingroup$
You don't even need to heat it. I saw silver being beaten into leaf on a Rick Stein cooking show by two guys with what looked like wooden hammers. (they were putting it on top of a kind of custard as a garnish)
$endgroup$
– Adam Eberbach
Apr 10 at 1:04
add a comment |
$begingroup$
Cupellation: https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cupellation
Cupellation is the process of heating ores to separate noble metals (silver, gold, etc) from them. Silver is pretty reactive so finding silver by itself in nature is kind a hard so you are more likely to find it bonded with something like lead.
If your silver is still one solid chunk then all you need to do is heat it in a furnace and then cut or hammer it into smaller pieces. Or pour the molten silver into multiple canals that lead to multiple molds. Silver is a pretty easy metal to work with compared to iron and the Romans where already knowledgeable in iron working (Celts were better smiths however)
Smelting silver and silver working has been around since the bronze age so to someone with Roman tech smelting silver is a easy process. Heck the Romans where able to make alloys like pewter.
answered Apr 9 at 11:47
Celestial Dragon EmperorCelestial Dragon Emperor
3,06031744
$endgroup$
add a comment |
$begingroup$
Cupellation: https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cupellation
Cupellation is the process of heating ores to separate noble metals (silver, gold, etc) from them. Silver is pretty reactive so finding silver by itself in nature is kind a hard so you are more likely to find it bonded with something like lead.
If your silver is still one solid chunk then all you need to do is heat it in a furnace and then cut or hammer it into smaller pieces. Or pour the molten silver into multiple canals that lead to multiple molds. Silver is a pretty easy metal to work with compared to iron and the Romans where already knowledgeable in iron working (Celts were better smiths however)
Smelting silver and silver working has been around since the bronze age so to someone with Roman tech smelting silver is a easy process. Heck the Romans where able to make alloys like pewter.
answered Apr 9 at 11:47
Celestial Dragon EmperorCelestial Dragon Emperor
3,06031744
$endgroup$
add a comment |
$begingroup$
Cupellation: https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cupellation
Cupellation is the process of heating ores to separate noble metals (silver, gold, etc) from them. Silver is pretty reactive so finding silver by itself in nature is kind a hard so you are more likely to find it bonded with something like lead.
If your silver is still one solid chunk then all you need to do is heat it in a furnace and then cut or hammer it into smaller pieces. Or pour the molten silver into multiple canals that lead to multiple molds. Silver is a pretty easy metal to work with compared to iron and the Romans where already knowledgeable in iron working (Celts were better smiths however)
Smelting silver and silver working has been around since the bronze age so to someone with Roman tech smelting silver is a easy process. Heck the Romans where able to make alloys like pewter.
answered Apr 9 at 11:47
Celestial Dragon EmperorCelestial Dragon Emperor
3,06031744
$endgroup$
Cupellation: https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cupellation
Cupellation is the process of heating ores to separate noble metals (silver, gold, etc) from them. Silver is pretty reactive so finding silver by itself in nature is kind a hard so you are more likely to find it bonded with something like lead.
If your silver is still one solid chunk then all you need to do is heat it in a furnace and then cut or hammer it into smaller pieces. Or pour the molten silver into multiple canals that lead to multiple molds. Silver is a pretty easy metal to work with compared to iron and the Romans where already knowledgeable in iron working (Celts were better smiths however)
Smelting silver and silver working has been around since the bronze age so to someone with Roman tech smelting silver is a easy process. Heck the Romans where able to make alloys like pewter.
answered Apr 9 at 11:47
Celestial Dragon EmperorCelestial Dragon Emperor
3,06031744
answered Apr 9 at 11:47
Celestial Dragon EmperorCelestial Dragon Emperor
3,06031744
answered Apr 9 at 11:47
Celestial Dragon EmperorCelestial Dragon Emperor
3,06031744
answered Apr 9 at 11:47
Celestial Dragon EmperorCelestial Dragon Emperor
3,06031744
3,06031744
add a comment |
add a comment |
$begingroup$
Silver can be formed into leaf almost as thin as gold with primitive technology. This is easy to break up.
Also with a few earthenware jars and dissimilar metal electrodes you could generate colloidal silver. This is of atomic particle size so that should be small enough for you. granted it will take some work to process a few ounces.
answered Apr 10 at 0:03
KalleMPKalleMP
57449
$endgroup$
add a comment |
$begingroup$
Silver can be formed into leaf almost as thin as gold with primitive technology. This is easy to break up.
Also with a few earthenware jars and dissimilar metal electrodes you could generate colloidal silver. This is of atomic particle size so that should be small enough for you. granted it will take some work to process a few ounces.
answered Apr 10 at 0:03
KalleMPKalleMP
57449
$endgroup$
add a comment |
$begingroup$
Silver can be formed into leaf almost as thin as gold with primitive technology. This is easy to break up.
Also with a few earthenware jars and dissimilar metal electrodes you could generate colloidal silver. This is of atomic particle size so that should be small enough for you. granted it will take some work to process a few ounces.
answered Apr 10 at 0:03
KalleMPKalleMP
57449
$endgroup$
Silver can be formed into leaf almost as thin as gold with primitive technology. This is easy to break up.
Also with a few earthenware jars and dissimilar metal electrodes you could generate colloidal silver. This is of atomic particle size so that should be small enough for you. granted it will take some work to process a few ounces.
answered Apr 10 at 0:03
KalleMPKalleMP
57449
answered Apr 10 at 0:03
KalleMPKalleMP
57449
answered Apr 10 at 0:03
KalleMPKalleMP
57449
answered Apr 10 at 0:03
KalleMPKalleMP
57449
57449
add a comment |
add a comment |
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The Romans had files and rasps. They also had emery and used it similar to how we use sandpaper today. What I don't understand is why do you think that reducing a lump of silver into dust will make it occupy a smaller volume? Tungsten is not obtainable with pre-modern technology. Platinum can be found in native (= metallic) form, but not in any area remotely accessible by the Romans. As for steel, it is a much longer discussion; they could make "hard iron".
$endgroup$
– AlexP
Apr 9 at 10:37
2
$begingroup$
The word "reduce" in a chemistry/metallurgy context means something quite different from your goal of dividing into small pieces.
$endgroup$
– Chris Stratton
Apr 9 at 23:07
2
$begingroup$
@Itmauve - your edit inserting "grind" into the title erroneously presumes a process other than the one most likely to be applied by knowledgeable metalsmiths
$endgroup$
– Chris Stratton
Apr 10 at 2:30
$begingroup$
@ChrisStratton The simple word ‘turn [into dust]’ might fit better if you were trying to avoid presumptions
$endgroup$
– Liam Morris
Apr 10 at 12:56
$begingroup$
Edited the title
$endgroup$
– openend
Apr 10 at 15:16