Which mechanism limited early Mesopotamian bronze tools' application in large-scale stone quarrying during ziggurat construction?

💡 Explanation

When bronze tools impact hard stone, work hardening occurs because repeated plastic deformation increases dislocations in crystal structure, leading to brittleness and fracture upon further impact. Therefore, brittle fracture limits use, rather than corrosion, creep, or oxidation which require prolonged environmental exposure or high temperatures absent in quarrying.

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