X-Ray Fluorescence (XRF) Analysis of Iron Ore at the Kedah Tua Iron Smelting Site, Sungai Batu Archaeological Complex, Bujang Valley, Kedah, Malaysia

Abstract

Archaeological excavations carried out on 17 iron smelting workshops at the Sungai Batu Archaeological Complex have found the raw materials of iron industry (hematite, magnetite and geotite) with iron slag, tuyere, remains of furnace, and iron ingots. In order to obtain primary data related to the location of the raw materials of iron smelting obtained, the survey and mapping activities were carried out using geological maps and Sungai Petani maps around UiTM Merbok, Bukit Inas, Merbok, Batu 5 Village, Paya Suri Village and Bukit Ayer Nasi, Semeling. The results of the iron ore survey were then subjected to scientific analysis to compare the mineral composition with the findings of iron ore at the iron smelting site. The results of X-Ray Fluorescence (XRF) analysis of iron ore revealed the content of iron (Fe), silica (SiO2), alumina (Al2O3) while XRF analysis of iron ingots revealed the composition of silica dioxide (SiO2), titanium dioxide (TiO2), aluminum oxide (Al2O3), iron oxide (FeO), manganese oxide (Na2O), magnesium oxide (MgO), calcium oxide (CaO), sodium oxide (Na2O), potassium oxide (K2O) and phosphorus oxide (P2O5) which have similarities with the analysis of iron smelting raw materials conducted survey . Based on the analysis of the raw materials of iron smelting to enable the iron smelting industry in the Archaeological Complex to take place is taken from a distance of 1-11 kilometers from this complex.

Keywords: Sungai Batu Archaeological Complex, XRF, Iron Ore, survey