Preliminary results of detailed geochemical study of mercury at the ancient ore roasting site Pšenk (Idrija area, Slovenia)
PŠenk is one out of 21 localities of ancient roasting sites in the woods surrounding Idrija and one of the largest localities of roasting vessels fragments. The most abundant pottery remains are found in the central western part of the area, which is about 60 m long and up to 50 m wide and is suppos...
| Main Authors: | , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Geological Survey of Slovenia
2009-06-01
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| Series: | Geologija |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | http://www.geologija-revija.si/dokument.aspx?id=1055 |
| _version_ | 1797945317851660288 |
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| author | Tamara Teršič Mateja Gosar |
| author_facet | Tamara Teršič Mateja Gosar |
| author_sort | Tamara Teršič |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | PŠenk is one out of 21 localities of ancient roasting sites in the woods surrounding Idrija and one of the largest localities of roasting vessels fragments. The most abundant pottery remains are found in the central western part of the area, which is about 60 m long and up to 50 m wide and is supposed to be the location of the roasting process it self. Detailed soil sampling was performed on 210 x 180 m big area. 156 soil (0–15 cm and 15–30 cm) and humus samples were collected from 73 sampling points. 3 soil profiles were sampled to determine vertical distribution ofHg in soil. The prevailing soil types are Cambisols with the typical A-B-C layers sequence. In general soils are richin organic matter to the depth of 30–40 cm; deeper the clayey loam prevails. The determined Hg contents in soiland humus samples of the investigated area are in the range 1.6–8,600 mg/kg with the median of 62.5 mg/kg. At thearea of supposed roasting site the Hg contents range between 20 and 8,600 mg/kg with the median of 580 mg/kg.Spatial distribution of mercury in humus and soils of the investigated area show the highest Hg concentrations atthe supposed roasting site area where the largest quantity of pottery fragments were found and to the east of thisarea, at the narrow tract between the footpath on the north and the bed of La~na voda brook on the south. Extremely high Hg contents were found in profile P4 where it riches 37,020 mg/kg at the depth of 20–30 cm; in general Hg concentrations in all three studied profiles show a gradual decrease with depth. The soils of the investigated area are enriched with mercury to a high degree. Further investigations on Hg speciation are needed to determine the mobility and bioavailability of Hg in soil. |
| first_indexed | 2024-04-10T20:53:16Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-5b453e4dfad1458d94949ada67b25240 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 0016-7789 1854-620X |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-04-10T20:53:16Z |
| publishDate | 2009-06-01 |
| publisher | Geological Survey of Slovenia |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Geologija |
| spelling | doaj.art-5b453e4dfad1458d94949ada67b252402023-01-23T08:10:16ZengGeological Survey of SloveniaGeologija0016-77891854-620X2009-06-015217986Preliminary results of detailed geochemical study of mercury at the ancient ore roasting site Pšenk (Idrija area, Slovenia)Tamara TeršičMateja GosarPŠenk is one out of 21 localities of ancient roasting sites in the woods surrounding Idrija and one of the largest localities of roasting vessels fragments. The most abundant pottery remains are found in the central western part of the area, which is about 60 m long and up to 50 m wide and is supposed to be the location of the roasting process it self. Detailed soil sampling was performed on 210 x 180 m big area. 156 soil (0–15 cm and 15–30 cm) and humus samples were collected from 73 sampling points. 3 soil profiles were sampled to determine vertical distribution ofHg in soil. The prevailing soil types are Cambisols with the typical A-B-C layers sequence. In general soils are richin organic matter to the depth of 30–40 cm; deeper the clayey loam prevails. The determined Hg contents in soiland humus samples of the investigated area are in the range 1.6–8,600 mg/kg with the median of 62.5 mg/kg. At thearea of supposed roasting site the Hg contents range between 20 and 8,600 mg/kg with the median of 580 mg/kg.Spatial distribution of mercury in humus and soils of the investigated area show the highest Hg concentrations atthe supposed roasting site area where the largest quantity of pottery fragments were found and to the east of thisarea, at the narrow tract between the footpath on the north and the bed of La~na voda brook on the south. Extremely high Hg contents were found in profile P4 where it riches 37,020 mg/kg at the depth of 20–30 cm; in general Hg concentrations in all three studied profiles show a gradual decrease with depth. The soils of the investigated area are enriched with mercury to a high degree. Further investigations on Hg speciation are needed to determine the mobility and bioavailability of Hg in soil.http://www.geologija-revija.si/dokument.aspx?id=1055geochemistrymercuryore roastingPšenkIdrijaSlovenia |
| spellingShingle | Tamara Teršič Mateja Gosar Preliminary results of detailed geochemical study of mercury at the ancient ore roasting site Pšenk (Idrija area, Slovenia) Geologija geochemistry mercury ore roasting Pšenk Idrija Slovenia |
| title | Preliminary results of detailed geochemical study of mercury at the ancient ore roasting site Pšenk (Idrija area, Slovenia) |
| title_full | Preliminary results of detailed geochemical study of mercury at the ancient ore roasting site Pšenk (Idrija area, Slovenia) |
| title_fullStr | Preliminary results of detailed geochemical study of mercury at the ancient ore roasting site Pšenk (Idrija area, Slovenia) |
| title_full_unstemmed | Preliminary results of detailed geochemical study of mercury at the ancient ore roasting site Pšenk (Idrija area, Slovenia) |
| title_short | Preliminary results of detailed geochemical study of mercury at the ancient ore roasting site Pšenk (Idrija area, Slovenia) |
| title_sort | preliminary results of detailed geochemical study of mercury at the ancient ore roasting site psenk idrija area slovenia |
| topic | geochemistry mercury ore roasting Pšenk Idrija Slovenia |
| url | http://www.geologija-revija.si/dokument.aspx?id=1055 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT tamaratersic preliminaryresultsofdetailedgeochemicalstudyofmercuryattheancientoreroastingsitepsenkidrijaareaslovenia AT matejagosar preliminaryresultsofdetailedgeochemicalstudyofmercuryattheancientoreroastingsitepsenkidrijaareaslovenia |