Geochemistry, petrology and evolutionary computations in the service of archaeology: restoration of the historical smelting process at the Katowice–Szopienice site

• DOI: 10.1007/s12520-016-0435-8
• Publication Date: 2016-11-17T02:26:37Z
• Authors: Rafał Warchulski; Przemysław Juszczuk; Aleksandra Gawȩda
• Keywords: Flash smelting; Slag (welding); Gangue; Archaeological Science

Activity at the smelting plant Katowice–Szopienice dates back to nineteenth century. Currently, Museum of Zinc has been funded site. Unfortunately, as a result unrest during both World Wars, all technological descriptions were lost. Three historically described samples provided by and additional slag lining collected directly from furnace. "Enriched ore" is dominated ZnS (89.5%) sphalerite wurtzite accompanied gangue minerals. "Roasted composed mainly zincite (74%) resulting oxidation ZnS. Study proved that "roasted ore with coke" sample description inappropriate. It zinc depleted enriched in Si (22.93 wt.%), Al (9.16 C (9.66 wt.%) its phase composition suggest it contains recycled material coke. Such characteristics place additions used for process. Advanced mathematical tool, differential evolution algorithm, was restoration process Algorithm great usefulness providing low dispersed results calculated compositions loss on (mainly yield) fitting error reduced down 1.19 wt.%. Loss Zn (41.40 (9.67 (9.50 wt.%). Proportion roasted addition estimated 1:1.27 share batch 62%. Geochemistry petrology have rich qualitative information about process, but combination evolutionary computations, high-quality quantitative data obtained.