Fresh elephant ivory samples were hated at oven temperature between 149°C and 871°C for one hour. Color changes are described. Weight losses and elemental analyses of the heated ivory are presented and discussed in term of alteration of the collagenoous portion of the ivory. A grey-blue coloration obtained at temperature above 593°C is attributed to small quantities of free carbon in the absence of proteinaceous material. Museum samples of excavated ivory were also analysed and compared to heated ivory. The grey-blue coloration of museum samples also appears to arise from small quantities of free carbon rather than from trace inorganic salts as has been previously suggested.
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Baer et al. (1971) studied this question.