Mineralogical study of precolonial (1650-1850 CE) tin smelting slags from Rooiberg, Limpopo Province, South Africa

Robert B. Heimann; Shadreck Chirikure; David Killick

doi:10.1127/0935-1221/2010/0022-2055

Mineralogical study of precolonial (1650-1850 CE) tin smelting slags from Rooiberg, Limpopo Province, South Africa

Robert B. Heimann, Shadreck Chirikure, David Killick

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

12 Scopus citations

Abstract

Vitreous slag remains of prehistoric tin smelting activities (1650-1850 CE) excavated at Rooiberg, Limpopo Province, South Africa were analyzed by wavelength-dispersive X-ray fluorescence spectrometry (WD-XRF), energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX), and electron-microprobe analysis (EPMA). The slags were found to contain high concentrations of tin oxide suggesting a low level of metal recovery that resulted in substantial tin losses. In addition, skeletal cassiterite, and complex spinels, as well as tin prills ranging in size from a few to tens of micrometres were observed. The contribution discusses the role tin(II) and (IV) oxides are thought to play during formation of slag as well as the crystal chemistry of spinels precipitated during cooling.

Original language	English (US)
Pages (from-to)	751-761
Number of pages	11
Journal	European Journal of Mineralogy
Volume	22
Issue number	5
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1127/0935-1221/2010/0022-2055
State	Published - 2010

Keywords

Cassiterite ore
Slag
Spinel
Tin smelting technology
Tin-bearing glasses

ASJC Scopus subject areas

Geochemistry and Petrology

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10.1127/0935-1221/2010/0022-2055

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title = "Mineralogical study of precolonial (1650-1850 CE) tin smelting slags from Rooiberg, Limpopo Province, South Africa",

abstract = "Vitreous slag remains of prehistoric tin smelting activities (1650-1850 CE) excavated at Rooiberg, Limpopo Province, South Africa were analyzed by wavelength-dispersive X-ray fluorescence spectrometry (WD-XRF), energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX), and electron-microprobe analysis (EPMA). The slags were found to contain high concentrations of tin oxide suggesting a low level of metal recovery that resulted in substantial tin losses. In addition, skeletal cassiterite, and complex spinels, as well as tin prills ranging in size from a few to tens of micrometres were observed. The contribution discusses the role tin(II) and (IV) oxides are thought to play during formation of slag as well as the crystal chemistry of spinels precipitated during cooling.",

keywords = "Cassiterite ore, Slag, Spinel, Tin smelting technology, Tin-bearing glasses",

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AU - Heimann, Robert B.

AU - Chirikure, Shadreck

AU - Killick, David

PY - 2010

Y1 - 2010

N2 - Vitreous slag remains of prehistoric tin smelting activities (1650-1850 CE) excavated at Rooiberg, Limpopo Province, South Africa were analyzed by wavelength-dispersive X-ray fluorescence spectrometry (WD-XRF), energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX), and electron-microprobe analysis (EPMA). The slags were found to contain high concentrations of tin oxide suggesting a low level of metal recovery that resulted in substantial tin losses. In addition, skeletal cassiterite, and complex spinels, as well as tin prills ranging in size from a few to tens of micrometres were observed. The contribution discusses the role tin(II) and (IV) oxides are thought to play during formation of slag as well as the crystal chemistry of spinels precipitated during cooling.

AB - Vitreous slag remains of prehistoric tin smelting activities (1650-1850 CE) excavated at Rooiberg, Limpopo Province, South Africa were analyzed by wavelength-dispersive X-ray fluorescence spectrometry (WD-XRF), energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX), and electron-microprobe analysis (EPMA). The slags were found to contain high concentrations of tin oxide suggesting a low level of metal recovery that resulted in substantial tin losses. In addition, skeletal cassiterite, and complex spinels, as well as tin prills ranging in size from a few to tens of micrometres were observed. The contribution discusses the role tin(II) and (IV) oxides are thought to play during formation of slag as well as the crystal chemistry of spinels precipitated during cooling.

KW - Cassiterite ore

KW - Slag

KW - Spinel

KW - Tin smelting technology

KW - Tin-bearing glasses

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Mineralogical study of precolonial (1650-1850 CE) tin smelting slags from Rooiberg, Limpopo Province, South Africa

Abstract

Keywords

ASJC Scopus subject areas

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