Small‐area XPS and XAES study of early iron metallurgy slags

Abstract

Abstract A group of slags dating back to Iron Age II (Aramean Period, 800–720 BC), which appeared to be iron‐smelting by‐products, has been found at Tell Afis (Northwestern Syria). The chemistry of these materials has been studied by means of small‐area x‐ray photoelectron spectroscopy and x‐ray‐induced Auger electron spectroscopy. The results indicate that the slags can be associated with an iron smelting process and show the presence of large amounts of FeO 1− x ′ , Fe 3 O 4 and FeOOH mixed with different aluminium and silicon compounds. As evidenced by the Wagner two‐dimensional chemical‐state plots of silicon and aluminium, these latter consist essentially of quartz and various silicates, such as wollastonite, Mg[SiO 4 ] or Mg[SiO 6 ] compounds, melilite and other complex aluminosilicates. Chemical information agrees with the predictions of the model of early iron‐making furnaces and is used to elucidate some aspects of the early iron‐making process.

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