FORMATION CONDITIONS OF THE BRONZE AGE METALLURGICAL SLAGS OF THE SOUTH URALS AND KAZAKHSTAN

Abstract

Four main mineralogical types are identified among a wide variety of metallurgical slags from the Bronze Age sites of the South Urals and Kazakhstan: chromite-bearing olivine, sulfide-bearing olivine, glassy sulfide-bearing and pyroxene. The slag types significantly differ in morphology, major and accessory minerals and composition of melt inclusions. The temperature of melt and the dynamics of its changes are estimated from phase diagrams and experimental studies. Crystallization models are proposed on the basis of ontogeny of newly formed minerals, relict inclusions, and possible temperatures for all slag types.

Keywords

• metallurgical slags
• bronze age
• melt temperature
• crystallization model
• south urals
• kazakhstan