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			 Member 
			
			
			
				
			
			Join Date: Dec 2004 
				Location: Ann Arbor, MI 
				
				
					Posts: 5,503
				 
				
				
				
				
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			From my high school chemistry class ( long ago, alas!), the only metal capable of floating on water is lithium. And it oxidized immediately.   
		
		
		
		
		
		
		
	Sodium and potassium in metallic form also are slightly lighter than water, but totally unsuitable for forming blades or other objects. . Also, here is one of the processes suitable to obtain metallic lithium. http://www.ehow.com/how_2062993_obtain-lithium.html Doubt very much that Dyaks possessed enough knowledge :-) Thus, the "floating mandau" story sounds like a fairy tale to me.  | 
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		#2 | 
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			 EAAF Staff 
			
			
			
				
			
			Join Date: Dec 2004 
				Location: Louisville, KY 
				
				
					Posts: 7,345
				 
				
				
				
				
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			This may be true Ariel,  it don't forget that a lot of stories and traditions grow around a lot of our weaponry. 
		
		
		
		
		
		
		
	Let's see what his are from his background.  | 
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		#3 | |
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			Join Date: Jul 2013 
				Location: Balikpapan, Indonesia 
				
				
					Posts: 31
				 
				
				
				
				
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			 Quote: 
	
 I dont know this material.. but my grandfather said it yellowiss color.. and it will floating on water.. our governor has it anjd still kept in capitol house of central borneo.. I havent found any literature said about this mandau.. and also because many of those items have been destroy or burn in the name of religion.. so nowadays only veryy..veryyy few people has it..  | 
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