Trace Elements of Cu-(Fe)-Sulfide Inclusions in Bronze Age Copper Slags from South Urals and Kazakhstan: Ore Sources and Alloying Additions

Abstract

In the paper, the results of an investigation into trace elements found in slag sulfides from 14 archaeological Bronze Age settlements of the Cis-Urals, Trans-Urals, and North and Central Kazakhstan are presented. The study used Cu-(Fe)-sulfides as indicator minerals. Cu-(Fe)-S minerals in slags are primarily represented by covellite and chalcocite, as well as by rarer bornite and single chalcopyrite grains. Slag sulfides formed relic clasts and neogenic droplets of different shapes and sizes. Supergenic ores in the Bronze Age in Urals and Kazakhstan played a significant role in the mineralogical raw material base. In sulfides, the main indicator elements, Fe, Co, Ni, As, Se, Te, Sb, Ag, Pb, and Bi, are important markers of copper deposit types. Sulfides from olivine Cr-rich spinel containing slags of Ustye, Turganik are characterized by As-Co-Ni high contents and confined to copper deposits in ultramafic rocks. Olivine sulfide-containing slags from Kamenny Ambar, Konoplyanka and Sarlybay 3 are characterized by Co-Se-Te assemblage and confined to mafic rocks. Glassy sulfide-containing slags from Katzbakh 6, Turganik, Ordynsky Ovrag, Ivanovskoe, Tokskoe, Bulanovskoe 2, Kuzminkovskoe 2, Pokrovskoe, Rodnikovoe, and Taldysay are characterized by Ag-Pb-(Ba)-(Bi) assemblage and confined to cupriferous sandstone deposits. High As, Sb, Sn, and Ba contents found in slags can be seen as indicators of alloying or flux components in primary copper smelting. These include samples from Ustye, Katzbakh 6, Rodnikovoe, and Taldysay sites, where high Ba and As slag contents are identified. The compilation of a database with a broad sample of sulfide compositions from Bronze Age slags and mines in the Urals and Kazakhstan will permit the further identification of ore types and raw materials associated with a particular deposit.

Microstructural and Analytical Study of Uncommon Corrosion Features on Archaeological Cu-As Alloys from Tappeh Graziani in Southeastern Iran

“…In addition to the main alloying elements, trace amounts of selenium (<0.3 wt%) were measured in the samples. The presence of selenium in artifacts may actually arise from the sulfide inclusions in the metal as selenium substitutes partly for sulfur in the mineral (Rehren & Northover, 1991; Kmošek et al, 2016; Artemyev & Ankushev, 2019; Scott & Schwab, 2019).…”

Ultrahigh-Temperature Sphalerite from Zn-Cd-Se-Rich Combustion Metamorphic Marbles, Daba Complex, Central Jordan: Paragenesis, Chemistry, and Structure

“…The LA-ICPMS analysis was run on a NewWave Research UP-213 laser ablation system coupled with an Agilent 7700x (Agilent Technologies, Inc., Santa Clara, CA, USA) plasma mass spectrometer. The procedure was as in [42], with an Nd: YAG UV source, frequency quadruple (wavelength 213 nm) with fluence settings of 2.5-3.5 J/cm 2 for pyrite and 3.5-5.0 for sphalerite and würtzite, helium cell carrier gas, and a gas flow rate of 0.6-0.7 L/min. The mass spectrometer settings were as follows: 1550 W RF power; Ar as a carrier gas; a flow rate of 0.95 to 1.05 L/min; a plasma gas flow (Ar) of 15 L/min; and an auxiliary gas flow (Ar) of 0.9 L/min.…”

Sulfide Minerals as Potential Tracers of Isochemical Processes in Contact Metamorphism: Case Study of the Kochumdek Aureole, East Siberia

“…The LA-ICP-MS analyses were run on a NewWave Research UP-213 laser ablation system coupled with an Agilent 7700x (Agilent Technologies, Inc., Santa Clara, CA, USA) plasma mass spectrometer. The procedure is outlined in [54], with an Nd: YAG UV source, frequency quadruple (wavelength 213 nm) with fluence settings of 2.5-3.5 J/cm 2 , helium cell carrier gas and a gas flow rate of 0.6-0.7 L/min. Polished sections of marble, gabbro, and marly limestone were made using the standard equipment and following the procedure described in [55].…”