João Pedro Veiga

This paper presents a comprehensive study of the evidence for ancient tin mining at the Ervedosa mine (Vinhais, Portugal). The geological context of the site indicates a rich cassiterite (SnO2) deposit, which was subject to mining in the twentieth century. Some ancient mining and ore processing stone tools were recovered during the twentieth century mining operations, namely one hammer, one pounder, one flat anvil and five small tools used both as pounders and crushing anvils, evidencing prehistoric mining activities. XRF and SEM–EDS chemical analyses were performed on primary and secondary cassiterite samples from the mining site, demonstrating the abundance and chemical heterogeneity of the tin (Sn) ores. The stone tools can be ascribed to Bronze Age or, at the latest, Early Iron Age (2nd millennium to the first half of 1st millennium BCE) by comparison with similar tools from other Iberian and European archaeological contexts. High-resolution photogrammetric 3D models of the tools are made available in this study. The historical descriptions of the findings and the research made on the technical archives about the mine allowed correlating the tools to mining in a primary context, focused on rich quartz veins in granitic or greisen bedrock, rather than mining in a secondary context. XRF and SEM–EDS analyses performed on the stone material and on surface adherences support their identification as specific types of hard rocks, such as granite, amphibolite and quartzite, and allowed the detection of Sn-rich adherent particles, confirming their use for Sn-material processing. The potential relation between the cassiterite resources and the local later prehistoric (Bronze Age to Early Iron Age) settlement pattern is also discussed. The results raise awareness and provide relevant data about the existence of tin mining in primary contexts during later prehistoric times in the NW Iberian Peninsula.

Bluish-grey limestones have been extensively used as ornamental stones for decoration purposes in buildings, as well as in works of art, and accordingly, have been the target of intense exploration. In Portugal, the Jurassic limestone massif known as the Maciço Calcário Estremenho (MCE), has been the source of grey-coloured ornamental stones, namely the Azul Valverde (one of the most well-known bluish-grey limestones) and Atlantic Blue varieties, both of which may undergo colour changes in outdoor environments. In this sense, it is important to understand the sudden colour change from bluish-grey to yellow/beige in the same limestone block in a quarry, or even, what happens to the colour when polished limestone is placed outdoors. This study was undertaken using various techniques, namely XRF (X-ray fluorescence spectrometry), XRD (X-ray diffraction), SEM (scanning electron microscopy), DTA–TG (differential thermal analysis/thermogravimetry) and colourimetry. Synchrotron radiation was also used at the European Synchrotron Radiation Facility (ESRF, Grenoble, France) where XANES (X-ray Absorption Near Edge Structure) spectra at Fe K-edge were collected to ascertain the speciation state of Fe in different coloured zones of the limestone, previously checked by EDXRF (energy dispersive X-ray fluorescence). The presence of Fe2+ and Fe3+ are responsible for the greyish and yellow/brown colour, respectively. On the other hand, the UV radiation from the sun causes a quickened and severe bleaching/fading on the dark blue/grey polished limestone.

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