The geoarchaeology of “waste heaps” from the ancient mining and beneficiation of copper-rich ores in the Wadi Khalid in southern Jordan

John Grattan; David D. Gilbertson; Jonathon H. Waller; Russell B. Adams

doi:10.1016/j.jas.2013.08.001

The geoarchaeology of “waste heaps” from the ancient mining and beneficiation of copper-rich ores in the Wadi Khalid in southern Jordan

John Grattan, David D. Gilbertson, Jonathon H. Waller, Russell B. Adams

Department of Geography and Earth Sciences

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

13 Citations (Scopus)

415 Downloads (Pure)

Abstract

Two main types of ancient mining-waste/spoil deposits were identified on the floor of the Wadi Khalid in the foothills of the Mountains of Edom near the ancient metallurgical centre of the Khirbat Faynan. The Khalid OP Beds are primarily the product of the purposeful breaking and selection of copper-rich clasts of particular sizes as part of the beneficiation of the mined ores, whereas the Khalid W Beds appear to be the result of the widespread discard of the more abundant final “waste products”. Geochemical studies of their surface copper contents by p-XRF of both deposits at eroding exposures conform to these interpretations

Original language	English
Pages (from-to)	428-433
Number of pages	6
Journal	Journal of Archaeological Science
Volume	46
Early online date	29 Jan 2014
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jas.2013.08.001
Publication status	Published - 30 Jun 2014

Keywords

geoarchaeology
P-XRF
copper
beneficiation
Jordan
mining
smelting

Access to Document

10.1016/j.jas.2013.08.001

Surficial geology Wadi Khalid 3.1 May 4 2012Accepted author manuscript, 136 KB
Fig 1 Khalid Colluvium Grattan et al. 2012 May 4Other version, 55.9 KB
Fig 2 Khalid colluvium Grattan et al. 2012 May4 2 partsOther version, 306 KB
Fig 3 Khalid Colluvium Grattan et al. 2012 May 4Other version, 187 KB
TablesOther version, 17.6 KB

Permanent link

Persistent link

Cite this

@article{ee7c9705c3d54f0b95210552f5298ba6,

title = "The geoarchaeology of “waste heaps” from the ancient mining and beneficiation of copper-rich ores in the Wadi Khalid in southern Jordan",

abstract = "Two main types of ancient mining-waste/spoil deposits were identified on the floor of the Wadi Khalid in the foothills of the Mountains of Edom near the ancient metallurgical centre of the Khirbat Faynan. The Khalid OP Beds are primarily the product of the purposeful breaking and selection of copper-rich clasts of particular sizes as part of the beneficiation of the mined ores, whereas the Khalid W Beds appear to be the result of the widespread discard of the more abundant final “waste products”. Geochemical studies of their surface copper contents by p-XRF of both deposits at eroding exposures conform to these interpretations",

keywords = "geoarchaeology, P-XRF, copper, beneficiation, Jordan, mining, smelting",

author = "John Grattan and Gilbertson, {David D.} and Waller, {Jonathon H.} and Adams, {Russell B.}",

year = "2014",

month = jun,

day = "30",

doi = "10.1016/j.jas.2013.08.001",

language = "English",

volume = "46",

pages = "428--433",

journal = "Journal of Archaeological Science",

issn = "0305-4403",

publisher = "Elsevier",

}

TY - JOUR

T1 - The geoarchaeology of “waste heaps” from the ancient mining and beneficiation of copper-rich ores in the Wadi Khalid in southern Jordan

AU - Grattan, John

AU - Gilbertson, David D.

AU - Waller, Jonathon H.

AU - Adams, Russell B.

PY - 2014/6/30

Y1 - 2014/6/30

N2 - Two main types of ancient mining-waste/spoil deposits were identified on the floor of the Wadi Khalid in the foothills of the Mountains of Edom near the ancient metallurgical centre of the Khirbat Faynan. The Khalid OP Beds are primarily the product of the purposeful breaking and selection of copper-rich clasts of particular sizes as part of the beneficiation of the mined ores, whereas the Khalid W Beds appear to be the result of the widespread discard of the more abundant final “waste products”. Geochemical studies of their surface copper contents by p-XRF of both deposits at eroding exposures conform to these interpretations

AB - Two main types of ancient mining-waste/spoil deposits were identified on the floor of the Wadi Khalid in the foothills of the Mountains of Edom near the ancient metallurgical centre of the Khirbat Faynan. The Khalid OP Beds are primarily the product of the purposeful breaking and selection of copper-rich clasts of particular sizes as part of the beneficiation of the mined ores, whereas the Khalid W Beds appear to be the result of the widespread discard of the more abundant final “waste products”. Geochemical studies of their surface copper contents by p-XRF of both deposits at eroding exposures conform to these interpretations

KW - geoarchaeology

KW - P-XRF

KW - copper

KW - beneficiation

KW - Jordan

KW - mining

KW - smelting

UR - http://hdl.handle.net/2160/44158

U2 - 10.1016/j.jas.2013.08.001

DO - 10.1016/j.jas.2013.08.001

M3 - Article

SN - 0305-4403

VL - 46

SP - 428

EP - 433

JO - Journal of Archaeological Science

JF - Journal of Archaeological Science

ER -

The geoarchaeology of “waste heaps” from the ancient mining and beneficiation of copper-rich ores in the Wadi Khalid in southern Jordan

Abstract

Keywords

Access to Document

Permanent link

Other files and links

Fingerprint

John Grattan

Ethno-geochemical and phytolith studies of activity related patterns: A case study from Al Ma'tan, Jordan

Cite this

The geoarchaeology of “waste heaps” from the ancient mining and beneficiation of copper-rich ores in the Wadi Khalid in southern Jordan

Abstract

Keywords

Access to Document

Permanent link

Other files and links

Fingerprint

Profiles

John Grattan

Research output

Ethno-geochemical and phytolith studies of activity related patterns: A case study from Al Ma'tan, Jordan

Cite this