Chemical-technological analysis of slags from the «Altynshoky» complex

Abstract

A historical monument on the top of the Altynshoky hill, first described by Academician K.I. Satpayev in 1935, consists of the so-called «Timur’s Stone» and the mound, in the embankment of which there is a melted rock, and whose purpose has not been clarified yet. The proposed work for the first time presents the results of a multidisciplinary study of rock samples from the Altynshoky mound, the wreckage of a thermo-technical structure, and debris of rocks exposed to high temperatures. Using laser atomic emission and X-ray fluorescence analysis, geological study of samples and high-temperature processing in laboratory conditions, the identity of their chemical and mineralogical composition is presented. It is shown that the rock composing the hill and the rock from which the structure is built are identical and metamorphosed basalt. The fragments of the red rock and the slag from the center of the structure according to the ratio of the main components, namely, Fe, Si, Al and others are identical to the composing rock and were obtained from it without adding any ores or fluxes. The possibility of obtaining samples of red color and black vitreous slag from the main rock of the hill was confirmed experimentally. The geological study did not reveal the presence of metals in meltable concentrations. As a result of the research it was established that the construction was not used for metallurgical processes and apparently intended for other purposes, possibly ritual.