Distilling zinc in China : the technology of large-scale zinc production in Chongqing during the Ming and Qing Dynasties (AD 1368-1911)
Zinc made a relative late appearance in the metallurgical history of China. As a volatile metal, its production required sophisticated distillation installations. The production of this metal played a special role in both the technological and economic history of Ming and Qing China: as a key constituent of the copper-alloy brass, zinc was employed for coinage and also exported via long-distance maritime trade. Our understanding of Chinese zinc distillation technology has traditionally been limited by a lack of studies of production remains. Recent excavation of zinc smelting sites in Fengdu and Shizhu, Chongqing, provides an excellent opportunity to address this issue. This thesis presents the analyses, technical interpretation and socio-economic contextualisation of the production remains from three sites in Fengdu and one site in Shizhu. Zinc ore, zinc metal, retorts and slag were analysed by optical microscopy, scanning electron microscopy with energy dispersive spectrometry (SEM-EDS), electron probe micro-analyser with wavelength dispersive spectrometry (EPMA-WDS) and X-ray diffractometry (XRD). Following on a detailed technological reconstruction, some differences were found between the zinc distillation
Zhou, W.
Distilling zinc in China : the technology of large-scale zinc production in Chongqing during the Ming and Qing Dynasties (AD 1368-1911). Zinc made a relative late appearance in the metallurgical history of China. As a volatile metal, its production required sophisticated distillation installations. The production of this metal played a special role in both the technological and economic history of Ming and Qing China: as a key constituent of the copper-alloy brass, zinc was employed for coinage and also exported via long-distance maritime trade. Our understanding of Chinese zinc distillation technology has traditionally been limited by a lack of studies of production remains. Recent excavation of zinc smelting sites in Fengdu and Shizhu, Chongqing, provides an excellent opportunity to address this issue. This thesis presents the analyses, technical interpretation and socio-economic contextualisation of the production remains from three sites in Fengdu and one site in Shizhu. Zinc ore, zinc metal, retorts and slag were analysed by optical microscopy, scanning electron microscopy with energy dispersive spectrometry (SEM-EDS), electron probe micro-analyser with wavelength dispersive spectrometry (EPMA-WDS) and X-ray diffractometry (XRD). Following on a detailed technological reconstruction, some differences were found between the zinc distillation
china technology large_scale production make relative late appearance metallurgical history china volatile metal_production require sophisticated installation production metal play special role technological economic_history qing china key constituent copper_alloy brass employ coinage also export via long_distance maritime_trade chinese technology traditionally limited lack study production_remain recent_excavation smelt_site provide_excellent opportunity address_issue present_analysis technical interpretation socio_economic contextualisation production_remain three_site site ore metal slag analyse optical_microscopy scan_electron microscopy_energy dispersive spectrometry sem_eds electron probe micro analyser wavelength dispersive spectrometry epma x_ray xrd following detailed technological reconstruction difference_find