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Trace Elements in Ancient Gold Products with PGE Microinclusions from Archaeological Sites of the Urals and North Black Sea Region: LA–ICP–MS Data
Author(s) -
Zaykov V. V.,
Melekestseva I. Y.,
Zaykova E. V.,
Fellenger D.,
Motz D.
Publication year - 2018
Publication title -
archaeometry
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.716
H-Index - 67
eISSN - 1475-4754
pISSN - 0003-813X
DOI - 10.1111/arcm.12381
Subject(s) - placer mining , platinum group , osmium , trace element , placer deposit , iridium , geology , base metal , ruthenium , geochemistry , gold ore , platinum , mineralogy , chemistry , metallurgy , materials science , catalysis , biochemistry , welding
Many archaeological gold products of the Urals and North Black Sea region contain microinclusions of platinum group minerals (PGMs). The trace element composition of these products was studied using LA–ICP–MS to reveal their microgeochemical features, the differences in the trace element composition of PGM‐bearing and PGM‐free products, and the source of gold. Owing to the presence of microinclusions of ruthenium, osmium and iridium, the gold products from the Filippovka I grave field and the Phanagoria site are enriched in Os, Ru, Ir and Rh. Among the platinum group elements (PGEs), Pt exhibits the highest contents in the gold products. The gold products are characterized by individual assemblages of Ag and base metals. The gold products with both PGEs and base metals were manufactered from two types of gold: placer‐derived and gold from oxidation zones of polymetallic volcanic‐hosted massive sulphide deposits. It is suggested that cupellation was most common technique of gold refinement.