The White Marble of the Arch of Augustus (Susa,North‐Western Italy): Mineralogical and Petrographic Analysis for the Definition of its Origin

The Arch of Augustus in Susa (north‐western Italy) was built in 9–8 bc by King Cottius, to celebrate the treaty between the Romans and the Gauls. It is made of white marble, which was considered for a long time to be locally extracted, but no archaeometric studies have been performed up to now. Therefore, a multi‐analytical study based on petrographic (optical and scanning electron microscopy), electron microprobe and stable isotope analyses was carried out on the marble from the arch and from reference samples, with the aim of defining the provenance. All the data confirmed that white marble belonging to the metamorphosed carbonate cover of the Dora Maira Massif, known as Foresto marble, was used for the Susa Arch. This choice was probably made for economic reasons, but also due to the relative independence of the ruling family of the Alpes Cottiae, which was obviously interested in promoting a local marble.     

Mineral weathering in forest soils and its relevance to the preservation of the buried archaeological resource

There is more woodland in Britain now than for many centuries and considering many international climate change mitigation policies, woodland cover, both in Britain and internationally, is being promoted. However, neither the management of existing woodlands nor their expansion should be at the expense of important archaeological evidence. Due to the large number of known archaeological sites, the large areas of land with uninvestigated archaeological potential and the expanding woodland cover, suitable mitigation strategies need to be developed to allow preservation in situ of important sites. An understanding of how woodland soils and the buried archaeological resource interact is, therefore, essential. This paper utilises ongoing environmental research into the mineral weathering rates in forest soils and considers its application to artefact preservation. The study concludes that soil water pH, its movement, and the saturation of dissolved ions in the soil solution are major factors determining both mineral and artefact longevity. A simple guide to artefact longevity based on these properties is proposed and a geochemical model for predicting loss is tested. These tools could be applied to any soil or individual horizon irrespective of land-use.     

Acqua minerale di Sangemini: the Italian mineral water industry finds a place at the table

Abstract

Water is an important part of most Italian meals, and Italians are amongst the largest consumers of bottled mineral water in Europe. This article looks at the development of the mineral water industry in Italy from the nineteenth century to present by focusing on the case of Sangemini mineral water from Umbria, Italy. In particular, this article looks at how medical findings became part of a popular hygiene and health discourse that was central to developing a market for mineral water in Italy. Contrary to other international markets, bottled mineral water is still consumed in Italy for its health and nutritional benefits today.     

滇越铁路与云南矿业开发(1910—1940)

1910年滇越铁路全线通车,大大改善了云南对外交通运输条件,推动了云南经济尤其是矿业的发展。滇越铁路的通车首先方便了个旧大锡的出口,大锡成为云南对外贸易的支柱产品,锡业也代替昔日的铜业成为云南矿业的命脉。滇越铁路还刺激了煤炭需求,促进了整个云南煤业的发展。不过由于滇越铁路管理权被法国控制,导致该条铁路产生的巨大收益外流,在一定程度上阻碍了云南矿业的进一步发展。     

广州地区出土西汉青铜器矿料来源分析

广州地区出土汉代青铜器数量众多，在考古学方面研究成果不少，但通过科技考古研究其产地的却不多。为研究广州地区出土西汉青铜器矿料来源，通过对广州出土西汉青铜器进行成分分析和铅同位素比值测试，与广西、江西、云南、贵州、安徽、湖北、河南、河北、北京等地出土同时期青铜器成分进行比较，发现西汉中晚期各地青铜器合金配比情况基本趋同。且根据含砷等微量元素这一显著特征，认为与广西合浦出土同时期青铜器矿料可能来自同一个地方。测试的铅同位素比值高度集中，其矿料应该来自同一个地方。分别与广东、贵州、云南、陕西、河南等地战国至西汉青铜器铅同位素比值进行比对，发现与广东、贵州、云南出土青铜器矿料来源同属一个大的成矿区，与河南、陕西等地明显区别。验证了学者们在考古学研究认为岭南地区出土西汉青铜器产自本地的观点。     

东北亚地区矿产资源及其生产要素区位平衡的分析

作为亚太地区组成部分的东北亚地区,主要包括中国东北、俄罗斯远东地区、朝鲜、韩国、日本和蒙古。这六个国家(地区)相互毗邻,联系密切,而且交通方便,运输距离短。     

Using mineral magnetism to characterise ironworking and to detect its evidence in peat bogs

An experimental approach has been used to establish whether medieval ironworking activity could be identified in peat bogs using mineral magnetic measurements. The research project comprised three elements. First, magnetic susceptibility and remanence properties were obtained for materials from an experimental iron smelt, in a furnace of medieval design, and from material collected during the excavation of the medieval bloomery at Llwyn Du in Coed y Brenin, Snowdonia. Materials sampled and measured included charcoal, aerial dust, roasted bog ore and furnace dust. A second experiment determined whether small amounts of aerial dust released from the furnace could be detected in accumulating peat samples. This was achieved by sprinkling small quantities of dust on to a constructed ’peat core’ that had no detectable magnetic signature prior to the addition of the dust. The application rates used were within the range expected to fall on a peat bog located close to a medieval furnace. Thirdly, mineral magnetic measurements were made on a peat core collected close to the Llwyn Du bloomery. The results confirm that roasted bog ore, aerial dust released from and dust accumulating in the furnace after a smelt, are magnetically detectable. The aerial dust and roasted bog ore produced enhanced susceptibility and remanence signatures in the constructed ’peat core’ experiments. Peaks in IRM_(0.88T) and HIRM were measured in the Llwyn Du peat monolith and appear to correlate with a time when the medieval bloomery was operational. The results presented here suggest that it is possible to identify evidence of past ironworking in peat bogs using mineral magnetic measurements and that the signatures remain well preserved in the peat record even after burial for several hundred years.     

U/Th-rich bitumen in Archean granites and Palaeoproterozoic metasediments, Rum Jungle Mineral Field, Australia: implications for mineralizing fluids

Uranium/thorium (U/Th)‐rich bitumen has been discovered within both Palaeoproterozoic black pelites and the Archean granitic basement of the Rum Jungle Mineral Field, Northern Territory, Australia. Granite‐hosted bitumen occurs as small (up to 400‐µm diameter) discrete individual nodules, which exhibit many morphological similarities to those observed in Phanerozoic siliciclastic rocks. Thorium, the dominant radioelement, occurs primarily as a hydrated Th–Y–Si–P phase. Uranium‐rich inclusions are rare, and correspond to a hydrated U–Th–Y–Si–P phase, identified as coffinite–thorogummite. Metasediment‐hosted bitumen is more variable in morphology, occurring as massive (<2 cm in width) veins that cross‐cut all foliations, as discrete individual nodules or as elongate seams (up to 500 µm in length), interpreted to represent a series of coalesced individual nodules. In all examples, uranium, the dominant radioelement in the metasediment‐hosted bitumen, is present as Th‐poor uraninite, with variable Y₂O₃ contents (up to 3.21 wt.%). Raman investigation of all types of bitumen indicates that it is a poorly organized carbonaceous matter, which has not been subjected to metamorphism. Consequently, a post‐metamorphic timing for hydrocarbon emplacement can be inferred and a magmatic origin can be precluded. Potential source rocks for the bitumen are black shales of the Whites Formation (up to 8 wt.% total organic carbon (TOC)) and the Koolpin Formation (approximately 13 wt.% TOC). Post‐metamorphic sericitization of rocks within the Whites Formation is accompanied by a near‐complete removal of organic matter. Alteration was possibly the catalyst for hydrocarbon generation. The Th–Y–Si–P phase within the granite‐hosted nodules is interpreted to be the result of the alteration of antecedent monazite. During this alteration, U, LREE and P were fractionated and removed, while Th, Y and Si remained immobile, and recombined to form a hydrated Th–Y–Si phase. This pervasive alteration within the basement U/Th‐rich granites is proposed as a genetic model for the formation of uranium deposits in the Rum Jungle Mineral Field and possibly unconformity associated uranium deposits on a global scale.     

青海民和县出土马家窑文化彩陶的科学分析研究

为了解青海民和回族土族自治县(以下简称民和县)阳山墓地(半山类型)和马牌墓地(马厂类型)出土的马家窑文化彩陶颜料成分及制作工艺,采用偏光显微技术、显微拉曼光谱、X射线衍射及扫描电镜-能谱对其进行综合分析。结果表明:民和县马家窑文化彩陶黑彩的呈色物相为磁铁矿和黑锰矿;红彩的呈色物相为赤铁矿;白彩的呈色物相为石英;黑彩的Fe/Mn比值,从半山时期的0.31增长到马厂时期的2.45左右,Fe/Mn比值呈现上升趋势。民和县铁矿颜料的应用是继化隆县纳卡遗址发现的又一实例,为研究矿物颜料在甘青地区史前时期彩陶中的使用历史提供重要的线索。结合地质文献资料,推测青海民和县所使用的矿物颜料为就近取材。陶胎岩相主要由石英、长石、角闪石及碳酸钙组成;以强烈铁染为特征;孔隙较多,大多拉长定向分布;在900℃左右焙烧成器。在此基础上将对甘肃和青海地区史前彩陶岩相组成进行对比研究,深入探析彩陶贸易及陶器产地信息,进而为陶器的研究与保护提供依据。     

基于铅同位素比值的古代矿料混合模型分析法

为深入研究古代青铜器示踪矿料来源中矿料混合问题,通过铅同位素研究数据构建矿料混合模型,从理论上探讨满足条件的青铜器数据样本其矿料混合的情况。基于模型,通过对铅同位素数据的处理,不仅能够匹配相应的矿料混合模式,而且可为器物分类提供依据。此外,还可计算出相应的铜料中表观含铅量,为相关研究提供参考依据。