Read an interesting article on the PBS Nova site this morning regarding the use of an X-Ray Fluorescence gun to do non-destructive testing of ceramic samples to identify the trace elements they contained. These trace element compositions would be unique to each local clay and kiln.
https://www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/article/x-ray-gun-identifies-a-shipwrecks-800-year-old-knockoff-ceramics/I had seen a gun used on a program last week, "Lost Vikings Of America", where they used a similar gun to instantly test some iron nails to see if the composition indicated pre-19th century. It was point and shoot, instantly done in the hotel room. Turned out the composition was 19th century.
I also found that these guns are used in the scrap metal industry to sort materials. I actually wouldn't be surprised if Lodge didn't have one to check on scrap and virgin iron.
Joel Schiff had long talked about wanting to have several mass spectrometer tests done on cast iron to identify the unique characteristics of the iron in each piece. Each foundry had a formula for their iron. Trace elements might include carbon, manganese, silicon, and sulfur, in example. Foundries would have their preferred source of pig iron, again each site with a unique trace element signature. The fuel and fluxes used would affect the composition of the iron. Again, the final composition should be pretty unique to each foundry, depending on their practices and preferences.
The problem with the mass spectrometer is that the equipment is very expensive and normally required a small sample that could be vaporized. Having the test run was very expensive.
These guns are not cheap, it looks like entry level is about $10,000 ($5,000 for the hardware, and $5,000 or so for the core to generate the x-rays).
I looked on eBay and saw a lab in Los Angeles that charged as little as $12.00 to do a sample when buying multiple tests. The process I believe would be to provide a clean pan, they would point and shoot, producing an instant trace element report.
If I lived in the LA area, I certainly would be considering spending $200-$300 to put together a study. Shipping would be a killer for me from home right now, and who would want to risk breakage anyway. So I think it would need to be local to anyone wanting to use it.
Maybe a way to positively identify the "Blacklock" skillets? Might be fun to see if there might be a Master's or PhD thesis topic in definitely tying early American iron to the foundry and the source of the iron.
Or maybe one of our large collecting groups would want to sponsor the cost for someone to do some of this testing.
Just fun to think about.
Tom
