Geochemical prospecting for iron mineralisation (SW Turkey) and ore processing units during Roman-Byzantine times

摘要

The territory of the ancient (Hellenistic to Byzantine) city of Sagalassos (SW Turkey) offers a rich variety of natural mineral resources. Geochemical anomalies of Mg-Cr-Ni and Fe-V-Ti in stream sediments are related to the presence of local mineralisation. Individual ore extraction and processing units are identified during a focused geochemical prospecting campaign. Metal working sites are characterised by Fe-Ti-V-La-Ce-U-Th anomalies in stream sediments. At these locations, ore enriched in the aforementioned elements was extracted and processed to workable iron, leaving a large amount of slag and production waste.