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<p>[QUOTE=&quot;desertgem, post: 2096323, member: 15199&quot;]XRF spectrometer produces&nbsp; primary x-rays which cause the atoms it hits to produce &quot;fluorescent X-Rays&quot; to penetrate through and escape from the sample which itself depends again on their energy levels. Copper, gold , and silver produce medium high energy response, zinc much lower. If their machine can detect copper through a thin film of zinc, then obviously it is just a plated cent, if it only picks up the zinc and no copper, then (1)&nbsp; the power is insufficient&nbsp; (2) it is only zinc and show zinc through all power levels~ then it is more likely to be an error. </p><p><br /></p><p>Many XRF machines used by pawn shops, bullion exchanges do not have the power or resolution to go very deep beyond the surface, so many questions rely on specific gravity (SG) differences, which estimates the whole sample, but with the post 1982 having so little copper anyway, SG measurements would be within tolerances either way.</p><p><br /></p><p>Locally, the dealers charge $50 for a single XRF test, so I would send it into a TPG instead and let them decide. Best of luck. If you live near a large university, ask in the geology/mineralogy dept if they have equipment. Jim[/QUOTE]</p><p><br /></p>

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