Application of surface and bulk analytical techniques for the study of iron metallurgy slags at Tell-Afis (N-W. Syria)

A group of slags, dating back to Iron Age II (Aramean period, 800-720 B.C.), that appeared to be iron-smelting by-products, have been found at Tell Afis (North-Western Syria). The chemistry of these materials has been studied by means of small area X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) and X-ray induced Auger electron spectroscopy (XAES). The results indicate that the slags can be really associated with an iron smelting process and show the presence of a large amounts of FeO1-x, Fe3O4 and FeOOH, mixed with different aluminum and silicon compounds. As evidenced by the Wagner two-chemical state plots of silicon and aluminum, these latter consist essentially of quartz and various silicates, such as wollastonite, Mg[SiO4] or Mg[SiO6] compounds, melilite and other complex alumino-silicates. Chemical information agree with the predictions of the model of early ironmaking furnaces and are used to elucidate some aspects of the early ironmaking process.