Minerals and Metals in Ancient India v1.c29.s1.5

v1.c29.s1.5

Transmission and scanning electron microscopy combined with diffraction study and EDAX facilities permitted us to study heterogeneity, elemental composition, grain size and grain phase composition of ancient zinc slag in a comprehensive manner. (Biswas et al., 1984: 236-37) Using a fine electron probe (~ 50 nm diameter) we could scan a grain as small as 0.5 µm and quantitatively analyse ten elements therein; we could also report the presence of more than a dozen specific phases in the lead-zinc bearing slag. Freestone and Middleton (1987) have shown how analytical SEM combined with DTA, electron petrography and thermodynamics of phase diagrams can yield valuable informations about silicate and carbonate-based artefacts, like ancient pottery and porcelain and archaeological residues like the zinc slag of Zawar Mines.