6533b837fe1ef96bd12a2a43
RESEARCH PRODUCT
Historical mining and smelting in the Vosges Mountains (France) recorded in two ombrotrophic peat bogs
Fabrice MonnaVincent BichetRémi LosnoPierre FluckBenoît ForelCarmela ChateauCarole BégeotChristophe PetitHervé RichardOlivier Bruguiersubject
Peat010504 meteorology & atmospheric sciencesGeochemistryOmbrotrophic010501 environmental sciencesEnvironment01 natural sciencesMiningVosgesGeochemistry and PetrologyBronze AgeGeomorphologyBog0105 earth and related environmental sciencesgeographygeography.geographical_feature_categoryMetalPeatParticulatesPollution[SDE.ES]Environmental Sciences/Environmental and SocietyArchaeological evidenceLead isotopesDeposition (aerosol physics)GeochemistryArchaeologySmeltingEconomic GeologyGeology[ SDE.ES ] Environmental Sciences/Environmental and SocietyMedievaldescription
Two peat sequences were sampled in the vicinity of the main mining districts of the Vosges Mountains: Sainte-Marie-aux-Mines and Plancher-les-Mines. Lead isotopic compositions and excess lead fluxes were calculated for each of these radiocarbon-dated sequences. Geochemical records are in very good agreement with the mining history of the area, well known over the last millennium. Except for an anomaly corresponding to the Middle Bronze Age which has not yet been resolved, there is no clear geochemical evidence of local metal production in the Vosges before the 10th century as excess lead deposition archived between 500 BC and 500 AD is attributed to long-range transport of polluted particulate matter. The approach described here can be applied to other mining districts where archaeological evidence is scarce or even lacking, but where past exploitation is suspected.
| year | journal | country | edition | language |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2010-10-01 |