G'day Mark / Willie-O,

I heard something similar a number of years back - relating to a physicist who was also a keen amateur luthier. He had been able to obtain a small chip of woodfrom a repaired Strad (cello ... ?) and used atomic absorption techniques to determine that it was, indeed, higher in chemicals matching sea salts, &c.

He suggested that a lot of the wood used had been cut in the mountains - then floated down rivers ... and on into the Bay of Naples - often remaining there for years before being sold (and that this wasn't commented on, since it was the normal practice of the day). I would have to chase a long way back to find the name and references ... I think I read about it in a copy of Science 80 (or ~'81 ... or so) - the discontinued general science magazine from the publishers of Science.

Regards,

Bob Bolton