[vannrox]

This was one of the mysteries that Erich Von Daniken used to explain his theories.

[parsifal]

Old Erich. Whatta fella. That Easter Island mytery would have been solved if he had only read Kon Tiki. parsy.

[AM2000]

What theories? (excuse my ignorance)

[chaosagent]

OK, now I'm confused. Iron, oxygen, and hydrogen.

Isn't this RUST anyway?

[Clara Lou]

Why didn't they put a picture with the article?!

[Libertarianize the GOP]

.

[Consort]

Things were built better back then

and

The quality of oxygen isn't as good as it used to be.

[blam]

Bump

[blam]

"The pillar—over seven metres high and weighing more than six tonnes—was erected by Kumara Gupta of Gupta dynasty that ruled northern India in AD 320-540. "

540 AD is the date of the cataclismic start of the worldwide Dark Ages. (I wonder if they are related?)

[aruanan]

Modern blast furnaces, on the other hand, use limestone in place of charcoal yielding molten slag and pig iron that is later converted into steel. In the modern process most phosphorous is carried away by the slag.

Too bad. Can you imagine how many vintage car bodies could still be around?

[Dog Gone]

Stating that the pillar is "a living testimony to the skill of metallurgists of ancient India",

No offense to these ancient Indians, but the odds of them knowing it would create some sort of rust barrier aren't high.

[AM2000]

Thought you guys might like this.

[palo verde]

thanks vannrox for posting this
I find it interesting
Love, Palo

[SunkenCiv]

Von Daniken my ***. That said, here's one of the hits from Googling:

TITLE
by AUTHOR

Balasubramaniam... did Mossbauer spectroscopy of the rust samples. He shows that the phosphate was crystalline iron hydrogen phosphate hydride... The rust is composed of iron hydrogen phosphate hydrate (FePO 4.H3PO 4.4H2O) in the crystalline form in addition to a-, y-, o-FeOOH and magnetite, all in amorphous form. The process of protective rust formation on DIP iron has been outlined based on the rust analysis. The passive film formation on the Delhi iron pillar has been contrasted with rusting of normal and weathering steels. The critical factor aiding the superior corrosion resistance of the Delhi iron pillar is the formation of crystalline iron hydrogen phosphate hydrate, as a thin layer next the metal-scale interface, which drastically lowers the rate of corrosion due to its low porosity content. The formation of protective crystalline phosphate is aided by alternate wetting and drying cycles, which is the important contribution of the atmosphere to the pillar's corrosion resistance. Therefore, the corrosion resistance of the Delhi iron pillar is due to both Delhi (the environment providing alternate wetting and drying conditions) and iron (with its high P content conferring protection by the formation of the crystalline iron hydrogen phosphate).

Nothing about this mineral name, so A) perhaps it never caught on, or B) it was just a problem with the translation.

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The GGG Digest -- Gods, Graves, Glyphs (alpha order)

[AnalogReigns]

What about "corten" steel (what they make the "rusty" guard-rails and bridge beams out of)?

Wonder what the composition of that stuff is. Supposed to never need painting--as the rust forms a protective barrier. Sounds like the same process as what "misawite" is.

[Henchman]

One PILLAR doesn't testify to any skills but to an accident of chance. If there were hundreds of examples around, then they could crow. ...but perhaps those in the business will change their iron making methods or a chemist will develop a spray that will prevent rusting.

[Casloy]

Why is a two year old article breaking news?

[SunkenCiv]

Just updating the GGG information, not sending a general distribution.

Please ping me to other topics which are appropriate for the GGG list. Thanks.

Please FREEPMAIL me if you want on, off, or alter the "Gods, Graves, Glyphs" PING list --
Archaeology/Anthropology/Ancient Cultures/Artifacts/Antiquities, etc.
The GGG Digest -- Gods, Graves, Glyphs (alpha order)

[Cultural Jihad]

[chuknospam]

Neat

[BureaucratusMaximus]

Its really embarrassing when my iron pillar becomes unraveled.

That is all.

(cmon...someone had to say it)