archaeometallurgy

Gossan is a term from mineral economics. The gossan may also be called iron cap. This is so because it denotes a concretion of iron hydroxides that has formed on top of sulphide mineral vein, where it reaches the surface. It forms during the supergene sulphide ore enrichment, when weakly acid surface water perloctaes through the mineral deposit. Many sulphide ores are oxidised in this process and brought into solution:

Schematic view of a sulphide vein. You can see the oxidation zone, consisting of the gossan, the leached zone and the oxidised zone. The reducing zone consists of the enrichment zone and the area of ​​primary mineralization. Significantly modified after Evans (1992) and Ottaway (1994).

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