531 research outputs found
Petrology of iron and copper slags from historical smelting activity in southern Tuscany
No full textIn this paper we present a petrographic and chemical characterisation of slag samples from seventeen metallurgical smelting sites for iron and base metals in southern Tuscany and Elba Island, active during ancient, medieval and modern times. These new results, integrated with data available for some of the investigated sites, expand the information available for the investigated metallurgical sites and offer a new petrological viewpoint on the historical evolution of the smelting activity. The chemical composition of samples from different smelting sites can be used to derive information on the composition of charges (and fluxes) used in the furnaces, as well as to determine the physical conditions of slag formation. This study ultimately contributes to enlarge the dataset available on slag mineralogy thereby offering a solid base for the petrological analysis of the slag formation process in historical smelting sites
Ancient to modern metallurgical slags: evolving smelting techniques and their interaction with the environment
No full textThe discovery of metals and how to extract and use them was a turning point in human history, because it changed the economy and socio-cultural structure of ancient civilisations and started to severely affect the impact of human activities on the environment. In fact, a lot of societies developed near extraction sites and founded their economy on the use and trade of metals.
In Tuscany (Italy) there has been a long history of mining and metal extraction. From archaeological studies it has been reconstructed that the earliest records of these activities date back to the Etruscan period (VII century B.C.). Exploitation continued intermittently until a few decades ago. This extended period of mining exploitation left a wealth of both iron and copper metallurgical slags that can usually be found as abandoned and unsupervised heaps.
These slags, apparently just a waste from the metallurgical process, actually carry information about the evolution of the metallurgical process through which they were generated. Information about the charge, flux and fuel can be inferred from chemical and mineralogical composition of the slags.
Slags from three different smelting districts, ranging from ancient Etruscan-Roman period to modern age (1900 A.D.) were studied macroscopically, identifying distinctive features related to the smelting process in different time periods. Then, thin sections obtained from representative samples were examined, using optical microscopy and electron microscopy. Chemical analyses were performed for major and trace elements by X-ray fluorescence spectroscopy and by inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry, respectively.
Leaching experiments on some carefully selected samples were also completed, to investigate the release of potentially toxic elements during the interaction of the slags with the surrounding environment.
This kind of investigation allows to reconstruct part of the history of metal utilisation as well as to predict the impact that these remains will have on the environment
Colloques de Rome 1999 : Sergio Ribichini, Maria Rocchi, Paolo Xella., La questione délie influenze vicino-orientali sulla religione greca, Atti del Colloquio Internazionale (Roma, 20-22 maggio 1999).
No full textLévêque Pierre. Colloques de Rome 1999 : Sergio Ribichini, Maria Rocchi, Paolo Xella., La questione délie influenze vicino-orientali sulla religione greca, Atti del Colloquio Internazionale (Roma, 20-22 maggio 1999).. In: Dialogues d'histoire ancienne, vol. 27, n°2, 2001. pp. 205-206
Il magmatismo dell'avampaese Ibleo (Sicilia orientale) tra il Trias e il Quaternario: dati stratigrafici e petrologici di sottosuolo
No full textColloques de Rome 1999 : Sergio Ribichini, Maria Rocchi, Paolo Xella., La questione délie influenze vicino-orientali sulla religione greca, Atti del Colloquio Internazionale (Roma, 20-22 maggio 1999).
No full textLévêque Pierre. Colloques de Rome 1999 : Sergio Ribichini, Maria Rocchi, Paolo Xella., La questione délie influenze vicino-orientali sulla religione greca, Atti del Colloquio Internazionale (Roma, 20-22 maggio 1999).. In: Dialogues d'histoire ancienne, vol. 27, n°2, 2001. pp. 205-206
Structures Related to the Emplacement of Shallow-Level Intrusions
No full textA systematic view of the vast nomenclature used to describe the structures of shallow-level intrusions is presented here. Structures are organised in four main groups, according to logical breaks in the timing of magma emplacement, independent of the scales of features: (1) Intrusion-related structures, formed as the magma is making space and then develops into its intrusion shape; (2) Magmatic flow-related structures, developed as magma moves with suspended crystals that are free to rotate; (3) Solid-state, flow-related structures that formed in portions of the intrusions affected by continuing flow of nearby magma, therefore considered to have a syn-magmatic, non-tectonic origin; (4) Thermal and fragmental structures, related to creation of space and impact on host materials. This scheme appears as a rational organisation, helpful in describing and interpreting the large variety of structures observed in shallow-level intrusions
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