V.M. Kvasnytsya, FAYALITE CRYSTALS FROM THE SLAG OF AN ANCIENT SMELTING FURNACE IN VOLYN REGION
https://doi.org/10.15407/mineraljournal.47.01.045
UDC 548.549.621.14
FAYALITE CRYSTALS FROM THE SLAG OF AN ANCIENT
SMELTING FURNACE IN VOLYN REGION
V.M. Kvasnytsya, DrSc (Mineralogy and Crystallography), Prof., Head of Department
E-mail: kvasnytsya@ukr.net; orcid: 0000-0002-3692-7153
H.H. Pavlov, PhD (Mineralogy and Crystallography), Associate Professor, Senior Research
E-mail: genychpavlov@gmail.com; orcid: 0000-0002-5913-042X
O.A. Vyshnevskyi, PhD (Geology and Mineralogy), Leading Researcher
E-mail: vyshnevskyy@i.ua; orcid: 0000-0002-7206-2185
I.V. Gurnenko, Researcher
E-mail: guriv@ukr.net; orcid: 0000-0001-7600-6909
M.P. Semenenko Institute of Geochemistry, Mineralogy and Ore Formation of the NAS of Ukraine
34, Acad. Palladin Ave., Kyiv, Ukraine, 03142
Language: Ukrainian
Mineralogical journal 2025, 47 (1): 45-54
Abstract: Fayalite crystals from ancient slag found in Volyn region were studied. Fayalite constitutes the bulk of the slag, less common phases of silicon oxide (metallurgical glass), iron (magnetite), unidentified silicate phase X and individual detrital quartz grains. Fayalite crystals have a predominantly skeletal (case-like) shape in the slag matrix and a close combination of several different morphological types of polyhedrons in its cavities. They are faceted by pinacoid {010} and prisms {021}, {110} and {120}. The habit of the crystals is prismatic, pinacoidal and pinacoidal-prismatic, they are often elongated along [001]. Most often skeletal are the faces of the prism {021} and pinacoid. The cores — the central parts of fayalite crystals are enriched with inclusions of glass, magnetite and phase X. Zoning and layering of fayalite crystals in the (021) plane were revealed. The surface of fayalite crystals is often decorated with magnetite microcrystals. In the slag matrix, particularly in fayalite crystals magnetite forms cubic crystals and dendrites, and glass forms various xenoforms and also dendrites. The chemical composition of fayalite crystals is relatively homogeneous, the average content of FeO is 68.00 wt.% and SiO2 is 32.00 wt.%. The source for iron smelting and slag production was swamp siderite or hydrogoethite ore, enriched in potassium and phosphorus. The temperature of fayalite crystal formation from slag melt could reach more than 1000 ºC.
Keywords: ancient slag, fayalite, glass, magnetite, bog ore, Volyn region.
References / Література
Chelishchev, N.F. (1970), On the evolution of olivine form during crystallization of olivine gabbro-norite melt under experimental conditions. In: Ontogenic methods of mineral research, Nauka, Moscow, pp. 124-129 [in Russian].
[Челищев, Н.Ф. (1970), Сб.: Онтогенические методы исследования минералов. Москва: Наука. C. 124—129.]
Goldschmidt, V. (1920), Atlas der Krystallformen, band VI, Heidelberg, Carl Winters Universitätsbuchhandlung, tafeln 50-62.
Hamilton, V.E. (2010), Geochemistry, Vol. 70, No. 1, pp. 7-33. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.chemer.2009.12.005
Hartman, Р. (1953), Relations between structures and morphology of сrystals, Thesis, Univ. Groningen, Excelsior, 414 р.
Hofmeister, A.M. and Pitman, K.M. (2007), Phys. Chem. Minerals, Vol. 34, pp. 319-333. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00269-007-0150-1
Huggins, E.G. (2023), Applications and examination of techniques used to determine magma storage and ascent timescales in arc volcanoes, Doctor of Philosophy thesis, Univ. Nevada, Reno, 160 p. https://avo.alaska.edu › pdfs › cit15941
Kirov, G.N. and Ivanov, І. (1968), Kristall und Technik, Vol 3, Iss. 4, pp. 637-642. https://doi.org/10.1002/crat.19680030419
Laihunite Research Group, Institute of Geochemistry (1982), Geochemistry, Vol. 1, pp. 105-114. https://doi.org/10.1007/BF03180340
Martin, A.M., Medard, M., Devovard, B., Keller, L.P., Righter, K., Devidal., J.L. and Rahman, Z. (2015), Amer. Mineral., Vol. 100, pp. 1153-1164. https://doi.org/10.2138/am-2014-5042
Mihailova, I. and Mehandjiev, D. (2010), J. Univ. Chem. Technol. and Metallurgy, Vol. 45, No. 3, pp. 317-326.
Rykhlitskyi, O. (2022), Polissya - the land of ancient metallurgists, LLC "Gazeta "Slovo" for 10.03.2022, Vyshgorod, UA [in Ukrainian]. URL: http://gazetaslovo.com.ua/polissya-kraj-starodavnih-metalurgiv/ (Accessed: 29.01.2025)
[Рихліцький, О. (2022), Полісся – край стародавніх металургів. Вишгород: ТОВ "Газета "Слово" за 10.03.2022.]
Salas, P., Ruprecht, P., Hernández, L. and Rabbia, O. (2021), Nat Commun, Vol. 12, 4069. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-021-24275-6
Welsch, B., Faure, F., Famin, V., Baronnet, A. and Bachèlery, P. (2013), J. Petrology, Vol. 54(3), рр. 539-574. https://doi.org/10.1093/petrology/egs077
Welsch, B., Hammer, J. and Hellebrand, E. (2014), Geology, Vol. 42(10), рр. 867-870. https://doi.org/10.1130/G35691.1