✅ SOLVED Lead ball

njrelicgairl

Hero Member
Jul 1, 2013
504
953
warren county NJ
Detector(s) used
Whites coin master and Vanquish 540
Primary Interest:
Metal Detecting

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The there are three pictures taken at different angles and one withe the ruler that shows the measurement.
 

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Upvote 4
I've found a couple bullets that are lead and have that white outer to them. I've always wondered if the degree of white build-up is related to age or not? Like older it is the more that happens. Does anyone know about the white discoloration and intensity of it being used to further date lead items?
 

Upvote 3
I've found a couple bullets that are lead and have that white outer to them. I've always wondered if the degree of white build-up is related to age or not? Like older it is the more that happens. Does anyone know about the white discoloration and intensity of it being used to further date lead items?
I've dug musket balls that are a 150-200 yrs old.
They look close in color to one's that were older than that.
I'm sure if one was to measure the white coating it might be thicker on something dug that was a thousand years old.
But things that I have dug 500+ years old the white patina seems a bit heavier on some items, while other items it's not.
 

Upvote 4
I've found a couple bullets that are lead and have that white outer to them. I've always wondered if the degree of white build-up is related to age or not? Like older it is the more that happens. Does anyone know about the white discoloration and intensity of it being used to further date lead items?
Good rule of thumb is the whiter the lead is, the purer the lead is....not always how old the lead is. Pretty sure they started adding alloys to lead (to make the lead harder ((arsnic, tin, antimony)) around 1900, alloys will slow the oxidation (white powder) of the lead, but don't be fooled, modern flint lock muzzle loaders must use pure lead balls.
 

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