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Dressing Technology for the Silver Ore in “Iwami” Silver Mine Site, Japan

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  21 March 2011

Ryu Murakami
Affiliation:
Nara National Institute for Cultural Properties, Kashihara-shi, Nara, 634-0025, Japan
Jun Takada
Affiliation:
Faculty of Engineering, Okayama University, Okayama, 700-8530, Japan
Toshiyuki Torigoe
Affiliation:
Faculty of Engineering, Okayama University, Okayama, 700-8530, Japan
Iwao Matsumoto
Affiliation:
Shimane Prefecture Education Committee, Matsue-shi, Shimane, 690-8502, Japan
Yoshio Toya
Affiliation:
Shimane Prefecture Education Committee, Matsue-shi, Shimane, 690-8502, Japan
Shouji Morioka
Affiliation:
Shimane Prefecture Education Committee, Matsue-shi, Shimane, 690-8502, Japan
Haruo Oguni
Affiliation:
Oda City Education Committee, Oda-shi, Shimane, 694-0064, Japan
Hiromi Endou
Affiliation:
Oda City Education Committee, Oda-shi, Shimane, 694-0064, Japan
Ken-ichi Nakada
Affiliation:
Oda City Education Committee, Oda-shi, Shimane, 694-0064, Japan
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Abstract

In the early modern age Japan was a kingdom rich in metal resources. A lot of gold, silver and copper were produced and exported to foreign countries, nevertheless Japan maintained a national isolation policy. The Iwami silver mine located in Shimane prefecture was the representative silver mine that prospered most. It produced about 10 % of the world's silver output. It is now mostly abandoned and reduced to ruins. Only a famous picture scroll remains to indicate its real activities. Through archaeological excavation started in 1983, it is becoming clear that extensive remains of mining and smelting are preserved. From 1996 scientific investigation of the excavated remains has been conducted. During excavation, and confirmed by scientific research, we recognized that the artifacts deposited during both the mining of the silver ore and the smelting process could be classified into two artifactual types; objects and fragments produced in the dressing process that were not influenced by a heating process and objects influenced by a heating process and produced by smelting and refining. The low grade ore, waste and tailings (remains after gravity concentration) that were scrapped in the dressing process are included in the former type, and the furnace fragments for smelting and refining, tuyeres (blast pipes) and slag and other smelter remains are of the latter type. The waste and tailings scrapped in the dressing process have not previously been studied. This study aimed at systematically investigating the dressing technology and estimating the ore grade through the evaluation of the range of variation in the waste and tailings left as scrap in the dressing process. The analytical results revealed the actual activities practiced at the Iwami silver mine in the dressing process.

Type
Research Article
Copyright
Copyright © Materials Research Society 2002

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References

REFERENCES

1. Murakami, R.et al., Book of Abstracts 2000 International Chemical Congress of Pacific Basin Societies, Am. Chem. Soc., 2000 pp. 5 ENVR 295.Google Scholar
2. Shimane Prefecture Education Committee, General examination report of Iwami Ginzan silver mine site the 2nd science investigation edition, 1999.Google Scholar