Pyrometallurgical relics of Pb–Cu–Fe deposits in south-eastern Germany: An exploration tool and a record of mining history

Dill, Harald G.

doi:10.1016/j.gexplo.2008.04.001

Cited by 13 publications

(7 citation statements)

References 31 publications

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“…It has been assumed that, due to several years of archaeological investigation and the subsequent backfilling of the sediment layer on the excavation site, it would be possible to analyse the surface material for mineral grains originating in furnace batch materials, slags, or even the final products of the metallurgical processes undertaken there.The geochemical investigation of metallurgical slags can be the source of important data for archaeometallurgy, knowledge of historical environmental pollution and regional geology [6][7][8][9]. The historical metallurgical slags are good materials for providing information on former metal smelting methods and their contemporary mining ore quality [10][11][12][13][14]. The examination of slags can provide significant information about chemical transformation rates and the metal stability associated therein [15][16][17][18][19][20].…”

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confidence: 99%

Pb-Rich Slags, Minerals, and Pollution Resulted from a Medieval Ag-Pb Smelting and Mining Operation in the Silesian-Cracovian Region (Southern Poland)

Cabała

Warchulski

Rozmus³

et al. 2019

Minerals

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Since the 12th century in the Silesian-Cracovian area, lead, litharge, and silver have been produced by the pyrometallurgical processing of Pb-Ag-Zn ore. Slags and soils contaminated with heavy metals (Zn, Pb, Cd, Fe, Mn, As) were the subject of this research. Samples were collected during archaeological works in the area of early medieval metallurgical settlement. The main goals of the analyses (Scanning Electron Miscroscopy-Energy Dispersive Spectroscopy (SEM-EDS), Electron Probe Microanalyzer (EPMA), X-ray diffraction (XRD), Atomic Absorption Spectroscopy (AAS)) were the determination of the mineralogical composition of furnace batches and smelting temperatures and conditions. In soils, the anthropogenic phases enriched in Pb, Zn, Fe, Mn, P, and primary minerals like goethite, ferrihydrite, sphalerite, galena, smithsonite, minrecordite, cerussite, gypsum, anglesite, jarosite, and hemimorphite were identified. The soil from former metallurgical settlements contained up to 1106 mg·kg −1 Pb, 782 mg·kg −1 Zn, 4.7 mg·kg −1 Cd in the fine fraction. Much higher heavy metal concentrations were observed in the waste products of ore rinsing, up to 49,282 mg·kg −1 Pb, 64,408 mg·kg −1 Zn, and 287 mg·kg −1 Cd. The medieval smelting industry and Pb-Ag-Zn ore processing are marked by highly anomalous geochemical pollution (Pb, Zn, Cd, Fe, Mn, Ba) in the topsoil. The methods of mineralogical investigation, such as SEM-EDS or EMPA, can be used to identify mineralogical phases formed during metallurgical processes or ore processing. Based on these methods, the characteristic primary assemblage and synthetic phases were identified in the area polluted by medieval metallurgy and mining of Pb-Ag-Zn ores, including MVT (Mississippi Valley Type) deposits. The minerals distinguished in slags and the structural features of metal-bearing aggregates allow us to conclude that batches have included mostly oxidised minerals (PbCO 3 , ZnCO 3 , CaZn(CO 3 ) 2 , FeOOH), sulfides (PbS and ZnS) and quartz (SiO 2 ). The laboratory experiment of high-temperature heating of the examined slags showed that smelting temperatures used in the second half of 13th century were very high and could have reached up to 1550 • C. The results indicate, that geochemical and mineralogical methods can be used to obtain important information from archaeological sites, even after archaeological work has long ceased.Minerals 2020, 10, 28 2 of 16 mining and metallurgy centres since Roman times. In the period between the 10th and 12th centuries, iron, lead, tin, silver, and gold had become more important for the development of civilization in Central and Eastern European countries. Since the beginning of the 10th century in medieval Europe, in areas where ores of Ag-Pb, Au, As-Au, Cu, Sn and Fe occurr, mining centres have appeared, such as at the Ore Mountains (Erzgebirge), Harz Mountains, and Sudetes.One of Europe's largest Zn-Pb, MVT (Mississippi Valley) type ore deposits can be found in the Silesian-Cracow area (southern Poland) [1]. Shallow deposits are represented...

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confidence: 99%

Pb-Rich Slags, Minerals, and Pollution Resulted from a Medieval Ag-Pb Smelting and Mining Operation in the Silesian-Cracovian Region (Southern Poland)

Cabała

Warchulski

Rozmus³

et al. 2019

Minerals

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“…The chemical composition is characterized by the Ce-La trend and by the Th-Nd-U triplot, which were interpreted as to the source rocks given in the last column (Arabic numerals 1 to 12 refer to the source rocks below). deposits often are also rife with anthropogenic objects, derived from mining, smelting and processing (Dill, 2008(Dill, , 2009. Therefore dumps of mining residues and slags adjacent to the drainage systems under study were surveyed as to the presence of REE phosphates in these man-made products.…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Morphology and mineral chemistry of monazite–zircon-bearing stream sediments of continental placer deposits (SE Germany): Ore guide and provenance marker

Dill

Weber²,

Klosa

2012

Journal of Geochemical Exploration

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“…This is documented in the archaeological and historical record of mining activities (e.g. Hooke, 2000;Dill, 2009), and charcoal analyses from sites in the mountain areas (e.g. Knapp et al, 2013;Robin et al, 2013).…”

Section: Mid-to Late Holocene River and Slope Activitymentioning

confidence: 98%

Holocene river and slope activity in the Visoko Basin, Bosnia‐Herzegovina – climate and land‐use effects

Dreibrodt

Lubos

Hofmann³

et al. 2013

J Quaternary Science

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Alluvial and colluvial deposits were investigated at prehistoric tells close to the Bosna River. The chronology is based on ten radiocarbon ages, five optically stimulated luminescence ages, and on the archaeological record. Fluvial activity of the Bosna River is indicated by overbank fines [ca. 5000 (±1000) BC, 500 BC until today] and a phase of lateral displacement of the river bed with subsequent channel fills ca. 2000–500 BC. Early Holocene fluvial activity was probably triggered by climatic variability but might have promoted the expansion of Neolithic societies into the Visoko Basin. Mid‐ to late Holocene river activity occurred under increased climatic aridity but coincided with the expansion of prehistoric settlements to a wider area of the river basin on hard rocks in the adjacent mountainous areas. The destruction of the thin soil cover in the mountains is discussed as a probable trigger for enduring subsequent river activity. This is also indicated by a change in the geochemical signature of the alluvial sediments. The proposed mechanism might explain the mid to late Holocene river history in other regions. The potential of geochemical analyses and diachronous high‐resolution archaeological records to make inferences regarding sediment sources and geomorphological processes is demonstrated. Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

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Pyrometallurgical relics of Pb–Cu–Fe deposits in south-eastern Germany: An exploration tool and a record of mining history

Cited by 13 publications

References 31 publications

Pb-Rich Slags, Minerals, and Pollution Resulted from a Medieval Ag-Pb Smelting and Mining Operation in the Silesian-Cracovian Region (Southern Poland)

Pb-Rich Slags, Minerals, and Pollution Resulted from a Medieval Ag-Pb Smelting and Mining Operation in the Silesian-Cracovian Region (Southern Poland)

Morphology and mineral chemistry of monazite–zircon-bearing stream sediments of continental placer deposits (SE Germany): Ore guide and provenance marker

Holocene river and slope activity in the Visoko Basin, Bosnia‐Herzegovina – climate and land‐use effects

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