| For context this is the back of a brass plaque that was screwed to a bit of wood. Bit of a novice at chemistrt but here's an explanation for what I think is going on here. The dark edge at the top was the top of the plate, where it got rained on and water was able to sit. I think the dark areas are various copper oxides. The two dark spots in the centre are a similar story, where the wood the plaque was screwed to was screwed to a stake, leaving empty spots where water could collect and sit against the brass. The flowing lines I think are where water slowly flowed between the plate and the wood. There are some straight lines running right to left that I think either follow the grain of the wood or of the brass. The wood as it decays or microbes in the wood might also produce acidic compounds that could take part in reactions with the brass. There are some white spots, most visible on the bottom edge and to the left, which I think are zinc oxide or some other zinc-oxygen compounds. If I'm wrong or anyone has better explanations please flex some knowledge! [link] [comments] |











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