Tumbaga

Tumbaga (also Tumbago ) is an alloy with the main component parts of gold and copper. The copper content can be up to 70%. Tumbaga has a lower melting point and a greater hardness than gold. The alloy was particularly widespread in Altkolumbien and in Central America. The surfaces of the products were heated and the resulting copper oxide removed with vegetable acid. What remained was pure gold. Many items of the Indians were prepared, such as Tumi and the tunjos. In this way the people of the Muisca worked (see Eldorado), the Tairona and the Sinú. There were two techniques of processing: the buzz and hammering and casting by the lost wax process.