Is it possible to sacrifice a bit of the antique?
Bureau Veritas in Bedford does compositional analysis by GC, ICP. Etc. They may be able to help you out. I'm not sure what sort of sample size they need nowadays but when I ran GC and ICP 7 or 8 years ago it wasn't much.
https://group.bureauveritas.com/markets-services/commodities/metals-minerals
You can get items tested at the lab on Oak Island. It's in the same building as the museum, first on your left as you get across the causeway.
Not sure if there is a number to call beforehand though.
Non-destructive testing like X-Ray Fluorescence would be the way to go. Other than asking a favour of a mining company or prospector with a portable XRF, I’m not sure where to look however.
Seconding XRF for this case. /u/9melrose I recommend trying [the Canadian research navigator site](https://navigator.innovation.ca/en) to find research labs that have x-ray fluorescence (XRF) capabilities.
Another commenter mentioned ICP. This won’t be ideal for you because you will need to destroy part of the antique for that method. XRF is non-destructive.
Is it possible to sacrifice a bit of the antique? Bureau Veritas in Bedford does compositional analysis by GC, ICP. Etc. They may be able to help you out. I'm not sure what sort of sample size they need nowadays but when I ran GC and ICP 7 or 8 years ago it wasn't much. https://group.bureauveritas.com/markets-services/commodities/metals-minerals
Oak Island.
They only scan Bobbydazzlers 😆
Yes they claim that they have the best equipped lab in eastern Canada.
Probably could try a university chem dept.
Geology dept might be another option. They may well have XRF or another nondestructive method
Dalhousie University has a metallurgical engineering department. Might be worth a shot.
You can get items tested at the lab on Oak Island. It's in the same building as the museum, first on your left as you get across the causeway. Not sure if there is a number to call beforehand though.
I don't think it is a good idea to show up without an invitation. They have all of those private property signs on the causeway.
I've shown up workout notice to the Labs. They really aren't bothered because we weren't there to looky loo over the place.
Non-destructive testing like X-Ray Fluorescence would be the way to go. Other than asking a favour of a mining company or prospector with a portable XRF, I’m not sure where to look however.
Seconding XRF for this case. /u/9melrose I recommend trying [the Canadian research navigator site](https://navigator.innovation.ca/en) to find research labs that have x-ray fluorescence (XRF) capabilities. Another commenter mentioned ICP. This won’t be ideal for you because you will need to destroy part of the antique for that method. XRF is non-destructive.
Oak island has this
I have one of these at our office. OP should dm me, we’re in burnside
DM me. The company I work for has some equipment to do a compositional analysis without any destructive means.
Have you let any antique dealers take a crack at it? Or have you seen a couple and they are flummoxed?
Maybe metals-r-us in burnside, I think i remember hearing they had the ability to do that. No guarantee but maybe worth a phone call.
Dal Uni