Geochemistry and petrology of striped chert as a provenance tool for artefacts from the KRZEMIONKI NEOLITHIC mining area (Poland)

Abstract

A prehistoric flint mine in Krzemionki with a neighboring area covers at least 2,300‐year history of striped chert extraction and dressing, spanning the age bracket of 3900 through 1600 B.C. The striped cherts occur in the form of concretions (nodules) varying from centimeters to at least 2 m across. This paper presents updated results of petrological and geochemical study of these siliceous rocks using optical and scanning electron microscopy, electron microprobe analysis (major/trace elements), and laser ablation‐inductively coupled plasma‐quadrupole mass spectrometry (rare earth elements). Striped chert concretions show strong light REENASC enrichments in relation to heavy REENASC; distinctly positive Eu, Pr, Tb, Ho, and Tm anomalies (≥1.2); as well as predominantly low (<0.6) Al2O3/Al2O3 + Fe2O3 + Mn2O3 ratios. These features discriminate these siliceous rocks from most chert occurrences in Europe. Microanalysis of individual concretions has confirmed multiphase provenance of striped chert concretions as evidenced by variations in concentrations of REE and other minor and trace elements. These characteristic markers may be used as geochemical proxies for studying the chert geologic/geographic origin and for sourcing of chert artefacts.

Soil Contamination with Metals in Mountainous: A Case Study of Jaworzyna Krynicka in the Beskidy Mountains (Poland)

“…However, as a result of human economic activity, they may be disturbed owing to the excessive discharge of one or more components. The constant increase in the consumption of trace elements leads to changes in the proportion between their activation and introduction into the biological environment and their re-deposition in geological formations [ 3 , 7 ].…”

“…As a result, the concentration of heavy metals in these elements of the environment increases. The natural content of heavy metals in soils is closely related to the type, kind, and grade of soil [ 3 , 4 , 7 ]. The intensity of metal deposition depends on the emission volume, physical properties of dusts, meteorological conditions, and soil characteristics.…”

Pyritization in Stone-Building Materials Modeling of Geochemical Interaction

“…The oxidation process of Fe 2+ in acidic environments is very slow and is independent of pH [55]. The lack of a correlation between pH and SO 4 2− could be explained by the complex processes of the interaction between water and sediment, the transformation of secondary minerals, sorption and desorption and the presence of unstable intermediate forms of sulfur in water [56]. The rate of pyrite oxidation in natural conditions depends on the following factors: physicochemical and biological conditions, i.e., air and water flow, the bacterial growth rate, the habitat preferences of microorganisms, the presence of organic compounds, temperature gradients, the formation of secondary minerals, neutralization reactions and climatic conditions.…”

Potentially Harmful Elements (As, Sb, Cd, Pb) in Soil Polluted by Historical Smelting Operation in the Upper Silesian Area (Southern Poland)

“…Soil pH has a significant influence on many (bio) chemical processes occurring in the soil [55][56][57]. The soil reaction affects the leachability of elements from mineral phases and determines the pool of bioavailable macro-(K, Ca, Mg, P, S) and microelements (Fe, Mn, Cu, Zn, Mo).…”