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ANCIENT EGYPTIAN LIMESTONE QUARRIES: A PETROLOGICAL SURVEY*
Author(s) -
HARRELL J. A.
Publication year - 1992
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/j.1475-4754.1992.tb00492.x
Subject(s) - geology , archaeology , geochemistry , mining engineering , geography
Ancient Egyptian limestone quarries in the Nile Valley occur in six geological formations of Palaeogene age. Samples were collected from 23 of the 48 known quarries, and analysed by thin‐section petrography and X‐ray fluorescence spectrometry. Results of the analyses show that the geological formations can be identified from rock texture and allochem types, and a plot of SiO 2 /Al 2 O 3 versus CaO/[CaO + MgO]. The application of these petrographic and geochemical parameters make it possible to determine the geographic provenance of limestone used in ancient Egyptian sculptures and monuments.