The ingots, dating from the first century A.D., were unearthed in the twentieth century during work on the Maghreb-Europe gas pipeline, and were kept in the Belmez Museum and in private homes.

The presence of a usable ingot seemed unlikely, and if true, downright alchemic.

During World War I, the kingdom of Romania sent by railroad 91.5 metric tons of gold coins and ingots to Moscow, along with jewels and cultural treasures such as works of art.

It starts off with a large ingot of ultra-pure silicon grown from a single crystal.

Mr. Menendez’s office did not respond to a request for comment on the gold ingot irony.