Application of SIMS in patina studies on Bronze Age copper alloys

Summary The potential of secondary ion mass spectrometry for the patina studies on Bronze Age copper alloys is discussed. It is shown that the combined use of metallography, electron probe micro-analysis and ion microscopy can obtain very useful information concerning fabrication technology and corrosion mechanisms of ancient metals. Especially the convenience of measuring ion micrographs for relatively rapid qualitative indication of phases and inclusions, which are of interest for the investigation of different corroded surfaces found on ancient bronzes, is outlined. The results of investigations of two bronze objects with a specific patina appearance are presented.