Axes from the Borodino hoard are made of jadeite and minerals of the serpentinite group.
Physicists of the National Research Center "Kurchatov Institute" have denied the conclusions made by archaeologists in the study of the stone composition of the pommel of axes and maces of the legendary Borodino treasure, the press service of the Association of State Scientific Centers "Science" reported on October 31.
Work on a comprehensive study of the chemical composition of stone products from the Borodino hoard was carried out by scientists from the laboratory of natural scientific methods in the humanities of the Kurchatov complex of NBIKS-nature-like technologies under the leadership of the Deputy Director of the NRC "Kurchatov Institute", Ph. D. Ekaterina Yatsishina.
Physicists were able to determine the real material of semi-precious stones of instruments using synchrotron methods of structural diagnostics: X-ray diffraction phase analysis and X-ray fluorescence elemental analysis. Scientists also used methods of scanning and transmission electron microscopy, as well as microscopy with elemental microanalysis.
The precious exhibits of the Bronze Age were not jade.
This conclusion contradicts the results of studies that were conducted in the 1970s.
Borodino treasure (Bessarabian treasure) is a find near the village of Borodino in Akkerman district of the Bessarabian province (currently - Tarutinsky district of Odessa region, Ukraine), consisting of weapons of silver, bronze and other precious materials. The treasure was discovered by local peasants who handed it over to the police. Since 1923, the treasures of the hoard have been kept in the State Historical Museum.