Burkart Ullrich Pawel Wolf Georg Kaufmann

Abstract

This paper discusses the results from the geophysical survey of ancient slag heaps in Hamadab in Northern Sudan. The aim of the survey was to evaluate the potential of Electrical Resistivity Tomography (ERT) and Ground Penetrating Radar (GPR) for non-destructive prospecting in arid environments. Complex Resistivity (CR) measurements were taken along five profiles on two slag heaps. The resulting 3D-models show great variation of the CR parameters amplitude and phase. The high amplitudes of between 1.000 and 10.000 Ωm correlate with a concrete slag layer on the surface of the heaps. The phase models show high polarisation effects in the interior of the heaps. The GPR results reveal structural information up to 1.5m below the surface. Tilted layers of slag are recognised by high reflection values. Areas of low reflection amplitudes indicate the location of furnaces, which are characterised by high absorption from clay artefacts.

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References
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How to Cite
Geophysical prospection of iron slag heaps at Hamadab, Northern Sudan. (2021). Historical Metallurgy, 48(1 & 2), 25-33. https://hmsjournal.org/index.php/home/article/view/86
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