The World's Oldest Surviving Geological Map: The 1150 B.C. Turin Papyrus from Egypt

Harrell, James; Brown, Vernon

doi:10.1086/629568

Cited by 42 publications

(16 citation statements)

References 5 publications

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“…Ruins of an ancient mining settlement, including numerous stone huts, ceramics, and different types of millstones, are dispersed close to an old freshwater well (Bir Um Fawakhir). There is evidence for Pharaonic up to Coptic/ Byzantine mining activity in the area (Meyer 1997 Klemm 1988, 2013;Harrell and Brown 1992). Underground mining from the late nineteenth century until 1958 by the El Sid Mining Company produced about 5 t Au from quartz veins with grades around 30 g t −1 (Harraz 2000).…”

Section: The Fawakhir-el Sid Mining Districtmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Terrane boundaries are generally marked by ophiolite-associated sutures (New Kingdom; about 1150 BC), commonly known as the Turin Papyrus Map (Figure 2d), which is the oldest surviving topographic map (Gardiner 1914). It is also the oldest geological map that distinguishes different lithological units and even hydrothermal alteration zones by contrasting colours (Klemm and Klemm 1988;Harrell and Brown 1992).…”

Section: The Fawakhir-el Sid Mining Districtmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Note that the map is not N-facing but is adapted to the outline of the Turin papyrus. The red and yellow lines are the two main valleys shown on the papyrus and the curvy connection is given in blue, as reconstructed by Harrell and Brown (1992). slivers of the granitic or ophiolitic wallrock.…”

Section: Gold Mineralizationmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Re-Os geochronology of gold mineralization in the Fawakhir area, Eastern Desert, Egypt

Zoheir

Creaser

Lehmann

2014

International Geology Review

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We report the first Re-Os data on gold-associated arsenopyrite from mesothermal gold-quartz veins in the ancient Egyptian Fawakhir-El Sid gold mining district in the central Eastern Desert. This mining district has an~5000-yearold history and is displayed in the Turin Papyrus Map (about 1150 BC), which is widely acclaimed as the world's oldest geographic map, as well as the oldest geologic and mine map. The Fawakhir-El Sid district is part of a regional NNWtrending shear corridor (15 km wide) that hosts several other historic gold mines associated with left-lateral wrench structures and related granite intrusions. Vein-style gold mineralization is hosted within and at the margin of an I-type and magnetite-series monzogranite, the Fawakhir granite intrusion, and a Pan-African (~740 Ma) ophiolite sequence. The ore mineralogy of the mineralized quartz veins includes pyrite-arsenopyrite-pyrrhotite-sphalerite-galena-chalcopyrite-electrum plus a number of tellurides of Ag, Au, and Bi. The 187 Re/ 188 Os versus 187 Os/ 188 Os regression on 5 points of arsenopyrite gives an age of 601 ± 17 Ma with an initial 187 Os/ 188 Os of 0.24 ± 0.07 (2 σ; MSWD = 17). This age coincides within error with the U-Pb age on zircon from the Fawakhir monzogranite (598 ± 3 Ma). The age coincidence and the hydrothermal Te and Bi metal signature suggest a foremost role of granite-related fluids in the quartz-vein system.

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Section: The Fawakhir-el Sid Mining Districtmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: The Fawakhir-el Sid Mining Districtmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Re-Os geochronology of gold mineralization in the Fawakhir area, Eastern Desert, Egypt

Zoheir

Creaser

Lehmann

2014

International Geology Review

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“…This systematic study and exploitation of rocks (including gold mining) led to the construction of primitive geological or mining maps, among the oldest of which is the so‐called ‘Turin Papyrus’ (1151 to 1145 bc ) that portrays the location of gold mines and decorative Precambrian sedimentary breccias (known as ‘bekhen‐stone’ or ‘breccia verde antico’) in Wadi Hammamat (Fig. 2), east central Egypt (Harrell & Brown, 1992). However, while these aspects of applied geology advanced a tradition of careful field observation, they left no legacy of interpretative science (Ellenberger, 1996).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

The role of the Mediterranean region in the development of sedimentary geology: a historical overview

Fischer

Garrison

2008

Sedimentology

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The Mediterranean region, source of so much knowledge in the world, is the site of major advances in sedimentary geology. In addition to its economic and cultural richness, the geological and geographic diversity of the region, plus its active geological processes, have long stimulated indigenous scholars, along with attracting talented outsiders such as Steno, Lyell, Walther, Kuenen and Bagnold. Since classical Hellenic times, debates about the origin of fossils and the changing positions of sea-level served as catalysts for studies of sediments, sedimentary rocks and ancient life. The presence of geologically young and easily interpreted marine shell beds in many Mediterranean coastal areas adjacent to their modern analogues was a particular stimulus for progress in sedimentary geology, for example, the very advanced stratigraphic ideas of Leonardo da Vinci, expressed solely in his unpublished notebooks. Impeding progress was the geological complexity of facies, faunas and structure in the circum-Mediterranean Alpine belts. Once the secrets of these were unlocked, however, the Mediterranean region became the source of major discoveries about syn-sedimentary tectonics, carbonate platforms, pelagic and anoxic sediments, turbidites, evaporites, aeolian processes, cyclostratigraphy, magnetic stratigraphy and impact events. In many of these Mediterranean discoveries, the critical element is the occurrence of extensive Mesozoic-Cenozoic pelagic successions whose precise age dating was made possible by pioneering biostratgraphic studies using microfossils.

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“…Even if a geological map is available, it may not be up to date or not show enough detail of the feature investigated; in all such cases, some degree of mapping is necessary to create a context for the new observations. Geological maps have been paper maps since the Turin papyrus of 1150BC (Harrell and Brown, 1992) and William Smith's 1815 map of Great Britain (cf. Winchester, 2001).…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

Digital mapping in structural geology — Examples from Namibia and Greece

Passchier¹,

Exner

2010

J Geol Soc India

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Many problems in geology, especially structural geology, can only be solved by detailed mapping. Presently, mapping is still mainly carried out on paper using techniques from the 19 th Century. However, tools are now available to carry out most mapping tasks on microcomputers in the field without any need of paper. This speeds up geological mapping and reduces the errors involved in the mapping process. Digital mapping also allows work in featureless areas and areas of great structural complexity that would not be possible using paper maps. We present two practical examples of the new technology of digital mapping using microcomputers, from Namibia and Greece.

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The World's Oldest Surviving Geological Map: The 1150 B.C. Turin Papyrus from Egypt

Cited by 42 publications

References 5 publications

Re-Os geochronology of gold mineralization in the Fawakhir area, Eastern Desert, Egypt

Re-Os geochronology of gold mineralization in the Fawakhir area, Eastern Desert, Egypt

The role of the Mediterranean region in the development of sedimentary geology: a historical overview

Digital mapping in structural geology — Examples from Namibia and Greece

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