Magnetic properties of archaeometallurgical slags from the Southern Trans-Urals: preliminary results
Magnetic properties of archaeometallurgical slags from the Kamenny Ambar settlement (21st- 18th cc. BCE) have been studied. The main magnetic mineral present in slags is magnetite with a significant (up to 0.2 cation per formula unit) degree of substitution of iron by other metals, and most of the studied samples contain at least two ferrite phases. Magnetic hysteresis parameters correspond to a pseudo-single-domain magnetic state implying rather fine (< 10 μm) size of magnetic particles. In principle, slag material can be used to determine the intensity of the ancient geomagnetic field.