Addressing the Precipitation of Hydrated Carbonates on a Bronze Cannon from the Alamo.

ABSTRACT: Following their defeat in the Texas Revolution of 1836, the Mexican Army disabled and buried cannons used in the defense of the Alamo. Rediscovered in 1852, 13 of these cannons have since journeyed through private collections and public exhibits before arriving at the Alamo. Among them is a bronze 4-pounder cannon, thought to have seen action during the battle itself. In 2017, the gun was conserved using electrolytic reduction with sodium hydroxide. White powder later appeared around the breech, identified as thermonatrite (Na₂CO₃·H₂O), trona (Na₃H-(CO₃)₂·2H₂O), and spertiniite (Cu-(OH)₂). The precipitate is likely the side effect of conservation treatment, and the cannon was retreated and boiled in dei

SUBMITTER: Breyfogle KL 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12409588 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Sep

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature