Evaluating copper isotope fractionation in the metallurgical operational chain: An experimental approach

S. Klein; T. Rose

doi:10.1111/arcm.12564

Evaluating copper isotope fractionation in the metallurgical operational chain: An experimental approach

S. Klein, T. Rose

Department of Bible Studies, Archeology and the Ancient Near East

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

14 Scopus citations

Abstract

Until today, raw material information of copper (Cu) objects is mostly gained from impurities and trace elements and not from the Cu itself. This might be obtained using its stable isotopes. However, isotopic fingerprinting requires the absence of fractionation during the smelting process. The Cu isotope evolution during outdoor smelting experiments with Cu sulphide ore was investigated. It is shown that external materials, in particular furnace lining, clay, manure and sand, alter the isotopic composition of the smelting products. Cu isotopes are fractionated within low viscosity slag derived from matte smelting. The produced metallic Cu has a Cu isotope signature close to the ore.

Original language	English
Pages (from-to)	134-155
Number of pages	22
Journal	Archaeometry
Volume	62
Issue number	S1
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1111/arcm.12564
State	Published - 1 Aug 2020

Keywords

chaîne opératoire
copper isotopes
fractionation
mass spectrometry
matte
ore
slag

ASJC Scopus subject areas

History
Archaeology

Access to Document

10.1111/arcm.12564

Cite this

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title = "Evaluating copper isotope fractionation in the metallurgical operational chain: An experimental approach",

abstract = "Until today, raw material information of copper (Cu) objects is mostly gained from impurities and trace elements and not from the Cu itself. This might be obtained using its stable isotopes. However, isotopic fingerprinting requires the absence of fractionation during the smelting process. The Cu isotope evolution during outdoor smelting experiments with Cu sulphide ore was investigated. It is shown that external materials, in particular furnace lining, clay, manure and sand, alter the isotopic composition of the smelting products. Cu isotopes are fractionated within low viscosity slag derived from matte smelting. The produced metallic Cu has a Cu isotope signature close to the ore.",

keywords = "cha{\^i}ne op{\'e}ratoire, copper isotopes, fractionation, mass spectrometry, matte, ore, slag",

author = "S. Klein and T. Rose",

note = "Funding Information: The research project was funded by the Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG). The FIERCE is financially supported by the Wilhelm and Else Heraeus Foundation and by the DFG (INST 161/921‐1 FUGG and INST 161/923‐1 FUGG), which is gratefully acknowledged. The authors thank Dr H.‐Michael Seitz and Serafina Endress for assistance during copper isotope analysis. This is the FIERCE contribution no. . The RGZM Mainz was generous with its facilities at the LEA, Mayen; and Michael Herdick is thanked. Without the experienced skills of Erica Hanning and the helping hands of volunteer students, there would have been no smelting products to analyse. The electron microprobe was used at the Geowissenschaftliches Zentrum G{\"o}ttingen with the help of Dr Andreas Kronz. At DBM, the authors thank Dr Michael Bode, Andreas Ludwig, Sandra Kruse, Georg Wange, Regina Kutz, Stephanie Menic, Isika Heuchel‐Pede and Peter Thomas. Data were processed and plots created with R (R Core Team 2019 ) in RStudio. The authors are grateful to the reviewers for substantial improvements to the paper. 7 {\textregistered} Publisher Copyright: {\textcopyright} 2020 The Authors. Archaeometry published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of University of Oxford",

year = "2020",

month = aug,

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doi = "10.1111/arcm.12564",

language = "English",

volume = "62",

pages = "134--155",

journal = "Archaeometry",

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T2 - An experimental approach

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AU - Rose, T.

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PY - 2020/8/1

Y1 - 2020/8/1

N2 - Until today, raw material information of copper (Cu) objects is mostly gained from impurities and trace elements and not from the Cu itself. This might be obtained using its stable isotopes. However, isotopic fingerprinting requires the absence of fractionation during the smelting process. The Cu isotope evolution during outdoor smelting experiments with Cu sulphide ore was investigated. It is shown that external materials, in particular furnace lining, clay, manure and sand, alter the isotopic composition of the smelting products. Cu isotopes are fractionated within low viscosity slag derived from matte smelting. The produced metallic Cu has a Cu isotope signature close to the ore.

AB - Until today, raw material information of copper (Cu) objects is mostly gained from impurities and trace elements and not from the Cu itself. This might be obtained using its stable isotopes. However, isotopic fingerprinting requires the absence of fractionation during the smelting process. The Cu isotope evolution during outdoor smelting experiments with Cu sulphide ore was investigated. It is shown that external materials, in particular furnace lining, clay, manure and sand, alter the isotopic composition of the smelting products. Cu isotopes are fractionated within low viscosity slag derived from matte smelting. The produced metallic Cu has a Cu isotope signature close to the ore.

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JO - Archaeometry

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Evaluating copper isotope fractionation in the metallurgical operational chain: An experimental approach

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Keywords

ASJC Scopus subject areas

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Copper isotope fractionation during prehistoric smelting of copper sulfides: experimental and analytical data

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Evaluating copper isotope fractionation in the metallurgical operational chain: An experimental approach

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ASJC Scopus subject areas

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Copper isotope fractionation during prehistoric smelting of copper sulfides: experimental and analytical data

Cite this