The source of mineral materials for Shang Dynasty bronze containing high- radioactive lead and the position of Ancient Sanxingdui in mining trade
Author:
Affiliation:

Clc Number:

Fund Project:

  • Article
  • |
  • Figures
  • |
  • Metrics
  • |
  • Reference
  • |
  • Related
  • |
  • Cited by
  • |
  • Materials
  • |
  • Comments
    Abstract:

    The Shang Dynasty bronze is characterized by the occurrence of high radioactive lead. However, the source of mineral materials remains poorly understood (controversial). In this contribution, 700 Pb isotope data of unearthed bronze from 8 ruins covering the whole Shang Dynasty (e.g., Zhengzhou Shang City in Henan, Yuanqu Shang City in Shanxi, Panlongcheng in Hubei, Sanxingdui in Sichuan, Hanzhong in Shanxi, Xingandayangzhou in Jiangxi, Yinxu in Henan and Nothern Shaanxi area) were collected and compared with those of 4025 ores from 606 Pb—Zn, Cu, and Sn polymetallic deposits in China. By this contribution, we tried to constarin the mineral material source of Shang Dynasty bronze and the status of Ancient Shu Country in the mining trade.Results and Conclusion: (1) The bronze artifacts unearthed from 6 sites/regions are likely to use two kinds of lead materials containing both normal and abnormal lead isotope compositions, including Shangcheng in Zhengzhou city (Henan Province), Panlongcheng (Hubei Province), Hanzhong (Shanxi Province), Shangcheng in Yuanqu (Shanxi Province), Yinxu in Anyang (Henan Province) and Northern Shaanxi province. However, the bronze artifacts unearthed from the Sanxingdui site in Sichuan Province and Xingandayangzhou site in Jiangxi Province mainly used the lead materials containing abnormal lead isotopic compositions. By contrast, the bronze artifacts unearthed from Sanxingdui (Sichuan Province), Hanzhong (Shanxi Province), and Northern Shaanxi province may use two kinds of copper mineral materials consisting of both normal and abnormal lead isotope compositions. In contrast, the bronze artifacts unearthed from Shangcheng in Zhengzhou (Henan Province), Panlongcheng (Hubei Province), Shangcheng in Yuanqu (Shanxi Province), Yinxu in Anyang (Henan Province) and Xingandayangzhou (Jiangxi Province) probably use copper mineral materials mainly containing normal Pb isotopic compositions, whereas copper materials containing abnormal Pb cannot be excluded.(2) Comparing the Pb isotopic compositions of ores from the Cu, Pb—Zn, Sn and polymetallic deposits in China, the lead materials containing high- radioactive Pb isotopes for unearthed bronze are most likely sourced from the Mississippi Valley Type (MVT) Pb—Zn deposits in the junction between Sichuan and Yunan Provinces. However, the copper materials containing high- radioactive Pb isotopic compositions are more likely sourced from Iron- oxide copper gold (IOCG) deposits in the junction between the Sichuan and Yunan Provinces and the Tongkuangyu Cu deposit in Zhongtiaoshan, Shanxi Province. (3) Considering the unique geographical location of Sanxingdui site, the rise and fall time of Sanxingdui bronze civilization and its path of cultural exchange and trade between Sanxingdui and other civilizations, we proposed that the Ancient Sanxingdui Civilization may represent a large transit place are for the trade of lead and some copper materials containing high- radioactive Pb isotopic compositions in the Shang Dynasty. The prosperity and decline of bronze artifacts containing high- radioactive lead in Shang Dynasty may be closely related to the opening and extinction of Sanxingdui bronze civilization.

    Reference
    Related
    Cited by
Get Citation

CHENG Wenbin, LANG Xinghai, OUYANG Hui, PENG Yiwei, XIE Fuwei, WANG Yong, PENG Qiang, YANG Chao, CHEN Cuihua, XIANG Fang.2023. The source of mineral materials for Shang Dynasty bronze containing high- radioactive lead and the position of Ancient Sanxingdui in mining trade[J]. Geological Review,69(6):2247-2262.

Copy
Share
Article Metrics
  • Abstract:
  • PDF:
  • HTML:
  • Cited by:
History
  • Received:November 03,2022
  • Revised:July 25,2023
  • Adopted:
  • Online: November 20,2023
  • Published: