The E-Sylum:  Volume 10, Number 9, March 4, 2007, Article 15

SEM-EDX ANALYSIS ANSWERS

Last week Ron Abler asked: "I looked up SEM-EDX on the web and
quickly submerged myself below the drowning level in too much
unfamiliar terminology to answer two simple questions:  Is it
non-destructive, and how much does it cost?"

Dave Lange of Numismatic Guaranty Corporation writes: "SEM-EDX is
non-destructive, and NGC uses it occasionally at a customer's request.
This is usually employed for testing the composition of pattern coins,
but we've been receiving recent requests for the testing of medals
and tokens. It is a costly process, about $100 per coin. The results
are only accurate for the coin's surface, which may not exactly reflect
the overall composition. We've found, however, that the results
typically are what was expected, though it's interesting to see which
trace elements turn up."

  Wayne Homren, Editor

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