THE GOLD OF THAT LAND: Biblical Minerals & Rocks  

28.     electrum

Hebrew: chashmal, Ezekiel 1:4, 27; 8:2; Septuagint, electrou.

Probable Identification: Electrum.

KJV’s rendering of chashmal as amber wins no support from modern translators. The Hebrews became acquainted with leshem in Egypt (See “AMBER.”).

Mineralogy:

    Electrum is a natural pale yellow alloy of gold with 20 to as much as 50% silver.

Historical Background:

    Much Egyptian gold occurred as electrum, and electrum beads and jewelry appeared in Predynastic times. Being harder and more wear-resistant than pure gold, electrum with 55% gold and 45% silver was used in minting the earliest coins around 620 BC.

Sources:

Kunz, op. cit.; 25

Ralph, Jolyon, 1993-2004. http://www.mindat.org/min-1365.html