Touchstone and gold alloy needles

Touchstone and needles

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Touchstone and needles
Science Museum Group
© The Board of Trustees of the Science Museum

Touchstone and needles

Touchstones are flinty, silicified, fine grained rocks. The name touchstone has reference to its use as a streak plate for gold. Needles of gold alloy of known composition were employed in assaying other alloys by comparing the marks made on the touchstone.

Details

Category:
Metallurgy
Object Number:
1903-186
type:
touchstones and needles
credit:
Museum of Practical Geology