MINERALOGICAL INVESTIGATION OF DESERT PATINA ON FLINT ARTIFACTS:A CASE STUDY

Authors

  • M. PAWLIKOWSKI Universily of Mining and Metallurgy Faculty of Geology, Geophysics and Environment Protection, Cracow, Poland
  • M. WASILEWSKI Institute of Mineralogy Petrography and Geochemistry, 31-059 Cracow, Poland al. A. Mickiewicza 30

Keywords:

Weathering, Mineralogy, Egypt, Palaeolithic, Flint, Patination

Abstract

The paper presents results of mineralogical analyses of patina covering pieces of flint from Deir el-Bahari in Egypt. Mineral composition and different kinds of patina are described. Forming of patina in desert conditions is connected with removal of iron, manganese,silicon, calcium and other metals from chemical structure of flint, as well as, crystallisation of minerals -derivative of these metals, both on the surface of flint and below surface.Composite patina covers of varying chemical composition and thickness are described, and the potential dating of flints from patination is discussed.

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Published

2002-12-01

Issue

Vol. 2 No. 2 (2002)

Section

Articles