Reconstruction of smelting conditions during 16th‐ to 18th‐century copper ore processing in the Kielce region (Old Polish Industrial District) based on slags from Miedziana Góra, Poland

This study presents the first reconstruction of smelting conditions in 16th- to 18th-century smelters from Miedziana Góra (Holy Cross Mountains, Poland). Based on geochemical (inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry/emission spectrometry, X-ray fluorescence) and mineralogical analysis (X-ray diffractometry, scanning electron microscopy, probe micro-analysis) historical slags, their chemical/phase composition basic parameters (temperature, melt viscosity, oxygen fugacity) were determined. Due differences chemical phase composition, slags different stages have been distinguished: hypocrystalline (MG6) speiss/matte production glassy (MG1–MG5) matte conversion. In pyroxenes, quartz/cristobalite grains, aggregates composed metallic Cu PbO are dispersed glass. Hypocrystalline wollastonites, anorthites, Cu. The temperature range at which formed was ~1100°C (solidus temperature) 1150–1200°C (liquidus temperature). silicate melt's viscosity log η = 1.19 4.42 Pa s (at 1100–1200°C). higher MG1–MG5 indicates that, unlike MG6 they not during gravity separation. Information about made it possible determine fugacity fO2 −4 −12 atm. High oxidizing nature process.