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<p>[QUOTE=&quot;PaddyB, post: 3669072, member: 40017&quot;]I don&#039;t know the history but the chemistry is fairly obvious. Zinc is a metal but exists as many compounds in common rocks and minerals, including some containing copper. When refining copper from these minerals it is likely the zinc remained with the copper forming various levels of alloy. Trial and error would soon lead them to the ideal combinations to get the best Orichalcum depending on the proportions of different minerals used.</p><p>Most likely compound would be Zinc Carbonate - found as Smithsonite in its pure form, but also occurring in Malachite, which is a Copper ore.</p><p>Zinc would be difficult to get as a pure metal for the Romans as it oxidises rapidly in air, particularly at temperature. I remember as a teenager trying to melt down Zinc battery cases to get a Zinc ingot and ending up only with a white/yellow powder (Zinc Oxide). </p><p>See also: <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Orichalcum" target="_blank" class="externalLink ProxyLink" data-proxy-href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Orichalcum" rel="nofollow">https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Orichalcum</a>[/QUOTE]</p><p><br /></p>

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