Brand new slag for the F11 is especially narrow ( Table 8 ), however it reveals the greatest FeO quantity within its glassy matrix (16.3wt%FeO). But not, in some parts, Fe aluminosilicates (exactly like people along with found in E13) are focused in the groups of recently shaped deposits ( Fig 17 ). Such as E13 above, 
they were most likely engrossed throughout the porcelain matrix for the it extremely thin slag, to provide various other need to have Fe enrichment of glassy matrix.
Observe that there aren’t any metallic stages to. These types of deposits have been in most certain aspects of the new slag. (Level = dos5?m).
Cu-rich prills are present in both samples. In E13 all prills are pure Cu with minor amounts of Fe (<2wt%Fe) and only in one case 0.8wt%As was detected. Bright red cuprite exsolutions around metallic Cu clusters are also identified, which could be the result of a re-oxidation process due to the variable redox conditions ( Fig 16 ). In F11, prills are not metallic, but Cu silicates with As2O3 ranging from 3.3wt%As2O3 to 8.5wt%As2O3 and FeO below 1.7wt%FeO.
Complete, zero clear copper ore relicts was known in accordance with the shipment out of mineral phase or microanalytical show. Just like the visibility from copper silicates into the F11 was suggestive out of a great smelting procedure, the data can not be taken to conclusively suggest whether or not smelting otherwise melting happened throughout these ships. In the event that smelting performed happen, the fresh new relatively reduced CaO and you will MgO from the slag, using visibility out of PbO inside E13 and additional impurities on Cu prills carry out strongly suggest the aid of additional nutrients as compared to earlier in the day classification.
Head isotopes
Lead isotopes consequence of the newest slag in the five crucibles analysed do not reveal radiogenic values; all of them was in fact between – toward 206 Pb/ 204 Pb ratio ( Table nine ). Examples E13 and you may E11 establish comparable beliefs that might correlate which have a familiar put. Results for the remainder about three examples (H12, G10 and you can F11, Fig 18 ) a bit differ from so it first classification, what supports the brand new exploitation of different copper tips. Amazingly, trials of La Bauma stick to the exact same pattern than simply previous northeastern trials analysed, filling up an existing pit ( Fig 18 ), possibly appearing that most nutrients used originated in this area.
Desk nine
Out-of provenance and you may considering the fact that our company is discussing slag layers right here, you will need to think about the possible head contribution throughout the about three fundamental resources of slag creation: we.age. the porcelain insert, the copper ore in addition to stamina. Rademakers ainsi que al. have indicated you to crucibles made from Pb-rich silt (20–1500ppm Pb regarding ceramic paste) make a difference lead isotopic configurations of their slags levels. Nonetheless, that it toxic contamination is anticipated become lesser whenever Pb-terrible clay–otherwise power–can be used and especially when the Pb-rich ores is smelted. Into matter-of La Bauma, most of the copper ores understood about Northeast and you will believed because potential offer right here (with the exception of Turquesa mine) provides high levels of lead, several being in reality Cu-Pb nutrients [54, 58]. Ergo, even after not having shadow element composition of the porcelain pastes otherwise encompassing clays, the assumption is that the main direct share to the slag could well be regarding the newest copper ore, which it might be you’ll to fit Los angeles Bauma examples on local mining districts.
The well-known Molar-Bellmunt-Falset (MBF) mining district (Tarragona province) must be discarded, as well as most of the Catalan Coastal Range isotopically characterised so far, as the available data differ from the archaeological samples (values <2.095 in 208 Pb/ 206 Pb or <18.4 in 206 Pb/ 204 Pb). The closest concordance for two samples (H12 and G10) is observed with the Montsant area (Tarragona province) ( Fig 19 ). Remarkably, Solana del Bepo mine, that is within this area, has highly similar values to H12 in all scatterplots of Fig 19 . The extensive study of this mine has evidenced its exploitation in prehistoric times. Other samples from Cova de l'Heura and possibly Vapor Gorina (see Evidence of crucible metallurgy in the Northeast: Bauma del Serrat del Pont and its contemporaneous assemblages) have also been linked to Solana del Bepo mine, although the fit of H12 within this isotopic field is clearer.