Diagrams of two types of common metallographic microstructures of copper alloys. Left: in the dendritic microstructure characteristic of a cast alloy, the dendrites are enclosed by the boundaries of forming grains; right: in the fully recrystallized microstructure, the hexagonal grains are equiaxed. From Scott, David A. 1991. Metallography and Microstructure of Ancient and Historic Metals. Marina del Rey, CA: Getty Conservation Institute in association with Archetype Books., 7, figs. 11a and 11c.