Science and Civilisation in China, Part 13, Mining

The only history of Chinese mining in English. Illustrated by photographs from mines.

Peter J. Golas (Author)

9780521580007, Cambridge University Press

Hardback, published 25 February 1999

564 pages, 127 b/w illus. 15 maps 14 tables
25.5 x 19.8 x 4.1 cm, 1.58 kg

'Peter Golas … provides the necessary technical detail with very clear explanations and he makes great efforts to place the technical development in its full historical context … Peter Golas's book gives us a clear view of the available evidence and an opportunity to argue about these questions in a more informed manner than has every been possible before.' EASTM

The fifth volume of Dr Needham's immense undertaking covers the subjects of chemistry and chemical technology. This, the thirteenth part of the volume, is the first history of Chinese mining to appear in a western language. Covering from the Neolithic period to the present day it deals with the full range of Chinese mining from copper to mercury, arsenic to coal and a large number of other minerals and materials. The author draws extensively not only on written sources but also on archaeological remains, and observation of traditional techniques still in use. The interrelationship between Chinese mining and the social, economic and political conditions in which it took place is examined, and leads the author to conclude that these extraneous factors were probably more important in determining how mining was carried out than technological progress.

List of illustrations
List of maps
List of tables
List of abbreviations
Author's note
1. Introduction
2. An overview of mining in China
3. Sources
4. Deposits
5. The products of Chinese mining
6. Prospecting and exploration
7. Placer mining and surface mining
8. Underground mining
9. Ore dressing
10. The copper precipitation process
11. Labour, capital and mining technology
12. The state and mining technology
13. Conclusions
14. Bibliographies
15. General index
15. Table of chineses dynasties
16. Romanization convertion tables.

Subject Areas: History of science [PDX]