Knappable materials in the Criș Valley, Romania

Keywords: knappable material, lithic tools, siliceous sinter, agate, silicified wood, lithotheque, Apuseni Mountains, Romania

Abstract


The purpose of this study is to identify and characterise some of the raw materials in the Criș Valley, in the Apuseni Mountains, Romania which are suitable for knapping tools. The materials cropping out in this area include: siliceous sinter, agate, and silicified wood. The basic characteristics of the materials, obtained by macroscopic and petrographic investigations, provide a reference database useful in provenance studies on individual artefacts or whole assemblages. An assessment of each material is made regarding its quality as a knappable material.

Author Biography

Otis Norman Crandell, Babeș-Bolyai University

Geology Department

References

Alcalde-Olivares, C.a.M., C., 2002, Description microscopica de maderas fosiles del Plioceno con lignitos del Distrito Mehedinti (Sur-Oreste de Rumania). Studia UBB, Geologia, Special volume(1): 255-264.
Balintoni, I.C. 1997, Geotectonica terenurilor metamorfice din România. Carpatica, Cluj-Napoca, 178 p.
Berbeleac, I., David, M. & Vanghelie, I. 1982, Stilbitul de la Valea Rea-Hățăgani. Dări de Seamă ale Ședințelor Institutul de Geologie și Geofizică, 66(1): 43-52. (in Romanian) ("Stibite from Rea-Hățăgani Valley")
Bleahu, M., Savu, H. & Borcoș, M. 1964, Geological Map of Romania, scale 1:200,000, 17 Brad Sheet [Geological]. Romanian Geological Institute, Bucharest. (in Romanian)
Blott, S.J. & Pye, K. 2008, Particle shape: a review and new methods of characterization and classification. Sedimentology, 55(1): 31-63. doi:10.1111/j.1365-3091.2007.00892.x
Borcoş, M., Popescu, G. & Roșu, E. 1986, Nouvelles données sur la stratigraphie et l’évolution du volcanisme tertiaire des Monts Métallifères. Dări de Seamă ale Şedinţelor Institutul de Geologie și Geofizică, 70-71(4): 245-259. (in French) ("New data on the stratigraphy and evolution of Tertiary volcanism of the Ore Metaliferi Mountains")
Bordea, S. & Borcoș, M. 1972, Geological Map of Romania, scale 1:50000, 73d Brad Sheet. Romanian Geological Institute, Bucharest. (in Romanian)
Bulgariu, B., M., B., Jitaru, R., Bulgariu, L., Pintilei, M. & Popescu, C. 2005, Contributions to the study of chalcedony and opal quartered in the andesites from Bucuresci-Criscior perimeter (Brad, Hunedoara county) – Part 1. Analele științifice ale Universității" Al. I. Cuza" din Iași: Geologie, 51: 27-44.
Cioflica, G., Savu, H., Nicolae, I., Lupu, M. & Vlad, Ş. 1981, Alpine ophiolitic complexes in South Carpathians and South Apuseni Mountains : guide to excursion A3. Carpatho-Balkan Geological Association, XII Congress, Bucharest-Romania. Institute of Geology and Geophysics, Bucharest, 80 p.
Constantina, C. & Pop, D. 2003, Brief overview on the SiO2 varieties of gem-quality from Southern Apuseni Mountains (Romania). Acta Mineralogica-Petrographica, Abstract Series, Szeged, 1: 21.
Crandell, O.N. 2005, Macroscopic analysis and characterisation of chert for provenance purposes. Sargetia, Acta Musei Devensis, 33: 137-153.
Crandell, O.N. 2006, Macroscopic and microscopic analysis of chert; A proposal for standardisation of methodology and terminology. Buletinul Cercurilor Științifice Studențești, 12: 7-30.
Crandell, O.N. 2009, Romanian Lithotheque Project: Knappable stone resources in the Mureș Valley, Romania. Studia Geologia, Special Issue, MAEGS - 16: 79-80. URL: http://www.studia.ubbcluj.ro/arhiva/abstract_en.php?editie=GEOLOGIA&nr=Special%20Issue&an=2009&id_art=7388
Crandell, O.N. 2012, Evaluation of PGAA data for provenance of lithic artifacts. Studia UBB, Geologia, 57(1): 3-11. doi:10.5038/1937-8602.57.1.1
Dimitrescu, R. 1958, Studiul geologic și petrografic al regiunii dintre Gîrda și Lupșa (basinul superior al Arieșului). Anuarul Comitetului Geologic, 31: 51-129. (in Romanian) ("Geological and petrographic study of the region between Gîrda and Lupșa (upper basin of the Arieș)")
Flörke, O.W., Köhler-Herbertz, B., Langer, K. & Tönges, I. 1982, Water in microcrystalline quartz of volcanic origin: Agates. Contributions to Mineralogy and Petrology, 80(4): 324-333. doi:10.1007/bf00378005
Folk, R.L. & Weaver, C.E. 1952, A study of the texture and composition of chert. American Journal of Science, 250(7): 498-510. doi:10.2475/ajs.250.7.498
Ghergari, L. & Ionescu, C. 1999, Genetic considerations on jasper in the Brad area (Apuseni Mts., Romania). Romanian Journal of Mineralogy, Supplement 1, 79: 32.
Ghergari, L., Ionescu, C. & Püspöki, Z. 1999, Jasper occurrences in the Brad area, Apuseni Mountains (Romania). Gems and gemology, 35(3): 139-140.
Ghițulescu, T.P. & Borcoș, M. 1966, Încadrarea funcțională a magmatismului alpin din Munții Metaliferi. Studii și Cercetări de Geologie, Geofizică, Geografie. Seria Geologie, 11(2): 267-279. (in Romanian) ("Functional classification of the alpine magmatism in the Metaliferi Mountains")
Ghițulescu, T.P., Verdeș, G. & Chința, R. 1968, Zăcămintele de silicolite din bazinul neogen al Bradului (jud. Hunedoara). Studii și Cercetări de Geologie, Geofizică, Geografie. Seria Geologie, 13(1): 67-76. (in Romanian) ("Chert ore deposits in the Neogene basin of Brad (Hunedoara county)")
Ghiurcă, V. 1981, Câteva date geologice asupra silicolitelor semipreţioase din jud. Hunedoara. Studia UBB Geologia-Geographia, 26(1): 42-47.
Ghiurcă, V. 2000, Aria de apariție a mineralelor silicioase de pe Culoarul Mureșului (HD). Acta (Siculica), 2000(1): 21-38. (in Romanian) ("Area of occurrence of siliceous minerals along the Mureș Corridor (HD)")
Givulescu, R. 1997, Istoria padurilor fosile din Terţiarul Transilvaniei, Banatului, Crişanei şi Maramureşului. Carpatica, Cluj-Napoca, 172 p.
Graetsch, H.A. 1994, Structural characteristics of opaline and microcrystalline silica minerals. In: Silica; Physcial Behavior, Geochemistry, and Materials Applications (Heaney, P.J., Prewitt, C.T. & Gibbs, G.V., Eds.) Reviews in Minerology Vol. 29, Mineralogical Society of America, Chantilly, VA: p. 209-232.
Graetsch, H.A., Flörke, O.W. & Miehe, G. 1985, The nature of water in chalcedony and opal-C from brazilian agate geodes. Physics and Chemistry of Minerals, 12(5): 300-306. doi:10.1007/bf00310343
Heaney, P.J. 1993, A proposed mechanism for the growth of chalcedony. Contributions to Mineralogy and Petrology, 115(1): 66-74. doi:10.1007/bf00712979
Heaney, P.J. & Davis, A.M. 1995, Observation and origin of self-organized textures in agates. Science, 269(5230): 1562-1565. doi:10.1126/science.269.5230.1562
Iamandei, S. & Iamandei, E. 1997, New Fossil Dicots in Pyrrhoclastics of Prăvăleni, Metalliferous Mountains. Acta Paleontologica Romaniae, 1, 113-118.
Iamandei, S. & Iamandei, E. 1999, Liquidambaroxylon pravalense n.sp., in the Pyroclastics of Prăvăleni, Metalliferous Mts. Acta Horti Botanicae Bucureştiensis, 27, 223-232.
Iamandei, S. & Iamandei, E. 2000, Fossil conifer wood from Pravaleni-Ociu, Metalliferous Mts. Acta Palaeontologica Romaniae, 2: 201-212.
Iamandei, S. & Iamandei, E. 2001, New Juglandaceous fossil wood in the Middle Miocene lignoflora of Pravaleni-Ociu (South Apuseni). In: 3rd Romanian National Symposium of Palaeontology. Acta Palaeontologica Romaniae. Vasiliana '98 (Olaru, L., Ed.), Iaşi: p. 185-198.
Iamandei, S. & Iamandei, E. 2005, Fossil Salicaceae from the Badenian Petrified Forest from Prăvăleni-Ociu,South Apuseni Mts. Revue Roumaine de Géologie, 49, 57-61.
Iamandei, S., Iamandei, E. & Ţibuleac, P. 2004, New fossil wood from the Late Badenian Forest of. Prăvăleni, Metalliferous Mts.(1st Part). Analele ştiinţifice ale Univ. “Al. I. Cuza” Iaşi, Geologie, , XLIX-L(2003-2004): 235-245.
Iamandei, S., Iamandei, E. & Ţibuleac, P. 2005, New fossil wood from the Late Badenian Forest of Prăvăleni, Metalliferous Mts. (2nd Part). Analele ştiinţifice ale Univ. “Al. I. Cuza” Iaşi, Geologie, LI, 111-120.
Ianovici, V., Borcoș, M., Bleahu, M., Patrulius, D., Lupu, M., Dimitrescu, R. & Savu, I. 1976, Geologia Munților Apuseni. Editura Academiei Republicii Socialiste România, Bucharest, 632 p. (in Romanian) ("Geology of the Apuseni Mountains")
Ianovici, V., Giușcă, D., Ghițulescu, T.P., Boreos, M., Lupu, M., Bleahu, M. & Savu., H. 1969, Evoluția geologică a Munților Metaliferi. Editura Academiei Republicii Socialiste România, Bucharest, 743 p. (in Romanian) ("Geological evolution of the Metaliferi Mountains")
Lupu, M., Borcoș, M., Dimian, M., Lupu, D. & Dimitrescu, R. 1966, Geological Map of Romania, scale 1:200,000, 18 Turda Sheet. Romanian Geological Institute, Bucharest. (in Romanian)
Mârza, I. & Constantina, C. 2000, Minerale geme asociate genetic ofiolitelor mezozoice si gheizeritelor neogene, din Muntii Apuseni de Sud. Studia UBB, Geologia, 45(1): 91-104. (in Romanian) ("Gem minerals genetically associated with Mesozoic ofiolites and Neogene geyserites, from the Southern Apuseni Mountains")
Mârza, I., Ghergari, L. & Lázlo, C. 1989, Liesegang structures hydrothermal-metasomatic in the pebbles of Badenian conglomerates from the polymetallic ore deposit at Baiaga-Coranda Hondol, the Metalliferous Mts. Studia UBB Geologia-Geographia, 43(1): 87-96.
Moxon, T. & Reed, S.J.B. 2006, Agate and chalcedony from igneous and sedimentary hosts aged from 13 to 3480 Ma: a cathodoluminescence study. Mineralogical Magazine, 70(5): 485-498. doi:10.1180/0026461067050347
Moxon, T., Reed, S.J.B. & Zhang, M. 2007, Metamorphic effects on agate found near the Shap granite, Cumbria, England: as demonstrated by petrography, X-ray diffraction and spectroscopic methods. Mineralogical Magazine, 71(4): 461-476. doi:10.1180/minmag.2007.071.4.461
Nagy, F. & Mârza, I. 1967, Magnolioxylon transilvanicum sp. n. în cineritele de la Prăvăleni. Analele Universităţii de la Bucureşti, s. Şt. Nat., Geol.-Geogr., 16(1): 97-102.
Nagy, F., Petrescu, I. & Mârza, I. 2002, La Présence d’un Bois de Glyptostroboxylon dans le Miocène de Prăvăleni - Brad Contribuţii Botanice, 37: 293-298. (in French) ("Abstract: The Presence of Fossil Wood of Glyptostroboxylon in the Miocene from Prăvăleni-Brad")
Petrescu, I. & Nuţu, A. 1969, Asupra unui lemn de Alnoxylon in colecţia Muzeului Deva. Sargetia, Acta Musei Devensis, sr. Sc. Nat., 6: 223-229.
Petrescu, I. & Nuţu, A. 1970, Alte tipuri de lemne din Miocenul superior de la Prăvăleni-Brad. Sargetia, Acta Musei Devensis, sr. Sc. Nat., 7: 253-258.
Petrescu, I. & Nuţu, A. 1972, Asupra unui lemn de Icacinoxylon Shlk., în Miocenul superior de la Prăvăleni-Brad, Sargetia (Acta Mesei Devensis), s. Ştiinţele Naturii, Deva, IX: 77-79.
Pop, D., Constantina, C., Tătar, D. & Kiefer, W. 2004, Raman spectroscopy on gem-quality microcrystalline and amorphous silica varieties from Romania. Studia UBB, Geologia, 49(1): 41-52. URL: http://scholarcommons.usf.edu/geologia/vol49/iss1/art4
Russo-Săndulescu, D., Berza, T., Bratosin, I. & Ianc, R. 1976, Contribuții la studiul petrologic al unor magmatite alpine din nordul Munților Trascău. Dări de Seamă ale Ședințelor Institutul de Geologie și Geofizică, 62(1): 165-194. (in Romanian) ("Contributions to the petrological study of some alpine magmatite from the northern Trascău Mountains")
Săndulescu, M., Kräutner, H., Borcoș, M., Năstăseanu, S., Patrulius, D., Ștefănescu, M., Ghenea, C., Lupu, M., Savu, H., Bercia, I. & Marinescu, F. 1978, Geological map of Romania, 1:1,000,000 scale. Institute of Geology and Geophysics, Bucharest. (in Romanian)
Săndulescu, M.I.V. 1984, Geotectonica României. Editura Tehnică, Bucharest, 336 p.
Savu, H. 1980, Genesis of the Alpine Cycle Ophiolites from Romania and Their Associated Calc-Alkaline and Alkaline Volcanics. Anuarul Institutului de Geologie și Geofizică, 56: 55-57.
Savu, H. 1983, Geotectonic and magmatic evolution of the Mures Zone (Apuseni Mountains) – Romania. Anuarul Institutului de Geologie şi Geofizică, 61: 159-168.
Sneed, E.D. & Folk, R.L. 1958, Pebbles in the Lower Colorado River, Texas a study in particle morphogenesis. The Journal of Geology, 66(2): 114-150. URL: http://www.jstor.org/stable/30058239
Socolescu, M.M. 1944, Les affleurements de minerais de la région de Vaţa-Soimuş-Buceava-Săvârşin-Zam (départements de Hunedoara et d'Arad). Comptes Rendus des Séances, Institut Géologique de Roumanie, 28: 93-125. (in French) ("Ore outcrops of the Vaţa-Soimuş-Buceava-Săvârşin-Zam region (Hunedoara and Arad counties)")
SRTM 2000, Shuttle Radar Topography Mission (SRTM) Digital Elevation Models (DEMs). NGA (National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency) and NASA (National Aeronautics and Space Administration). Retrieved 15 March 2010. URL: http://dds.cr.usgs.gov/srtm/version2_1/
Ștefan, A., Istrate, G. & Udrescu, C. 1982, Studiul petrologic al banatitelor din regiunea Măgureaua Vaței-valea Birtinului (Apusenii de Sud). Dări de Seamă ale Ședințelor Institutul de Geologie și Geofizică, 67(1): 145-174. (in Romanian) ("Petrological study of banatites from the Măgureaua Vaței-valea Birtinului region (Southern Apuseni Mts.)")
Tudor, G. 2009, GIR bedrock and superficial lithostratigraphy. Geological Survey of Romania. Retrieved 15 March 2013. URL: http://37.128.225.60/ArcGIS_Server_IGR/services/GIR_Bedrock_and_Superficial_Lithostratigraphy/MapServer/WMSServer?
Turq, A. 2005, Réflexions méthodologiques sur les études de matières premières lithiques. 1 – des lithothèques au matériel archéologique. Paléo. Revue d'archéologie préhistorique, (17): 111-132. (in French) ("Methodological considerations about lithic studies. 1 - from lithotheques to archaeological samples") URL: http://paleo.revues.org/883
Voiteşti, I.P. 1934, La mylonite du confluent des deux Someș, pres Gilău sur la bordure orientale des M-ts Apuseni. Revista Muzeului Geologic-Mineralogic al Universităt,ii din Cluj, 5(1): -162-202. (in French) ("Mylonite from the confluence of the two Someş Rivers, near Gilău on the eastern edge of Apuseni Mts.")
Zepharovich, V. 1859, Mineralogisches Lexicon für das Kaiserthum Österreich. Vol. 1. Wilhelm Braumüller, Vienna, 630 p. (in German) ("Mineralogical lexicon of the Austrian Empire")
Zingg, T. 1935, Beitrag zur Schotteranalyse : die Schotteranalyse und ihre Anwendung auf die Glattalschotter. Schweizer Mineralogische und Petrographische Mitteilungen, 15(1): 39–140. (in German) ("Contribution to Gravel Analysis") doi:10.5169/seals-15330
Published
15-Sep-2014
How to Cite
Crandell, O. (2014). Knappable materials in the Criș Valley, Romania. Journal of Lithic Studies, 1(2), 47-62. https://doi.org/10.2218/jls.v1i2.1101
Section
Research Articles