Electron archaeological applications

Inductively Coupled Plasma. Mass Spectrometry Archaeological Applications. Microscopy Techniques Scanning Electron Microscopy. Surface Analysis X-Ray Photoelectron Spectroscopy Particle-Induced X-Ray Emission Auger Electron Spectroscopy. X-Ray Absorption and Diffraction X-Ray Diffraction - Powder. X-Ray Fluorescence and Emission X-Ray Fluorescence Theory. 

Jose-Yacaman, M. and J. A. Ascencio (2000), Electron microscopy and its application to the study of archaeological materials and art preservation, in Ciliberto, E. and G. Spoto (eds.), Modern Analytical Methods in Art and Archaeology, Chemical Analysis Series, Vol. 155, Wiley, New York, pp. 405-443. 

An introductory manual that explains the basic concepts of chemistry behind scientific analytical techniques and that reviews their application to archaeology. It explains key terminology, outlines the procedures to be followed in order to produce good data, and describes the function of the basic instrumentation required to carry out those procedures. The manual contains chapters on the basic chemistry and physics necessary to understand the techniques used in analytical chemistry, with more detailed chapters on atomic absorption, inductively coupled plasma emission spectroscopy, neutron activation analysis, X-ray fluorescence, electron microscopy, infrared and Raman spectroscopy, and mass spectrometry. Each chapter describes the operation of the instruments, some hints on the practicalities, and a review of the application of the technique to archaeology, including some case studies. With guides to further reading on the topic, it is an essential tool for practitioners, researchers, and advanced students alike. 

Several other microanalytical methods in common use potentially have application on soil and sediments section samples. Laser-ablation inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometery (LA-ICP-MS) has been used on soil thin-sections from a controlled field experiment (21) but required special resins in the preparation. There is presently (May 2006) no reported use of this method on archaeological soil samples. Likewise, for extremely fine-resolution studies (i.e. <10 pm) with low minimum detection limits and despite difficult calibration, secondary ion microscopy (SIMS) has a potential role in examining archaeological soil thin sections. At even higher lateral resolutions ( 100 nm) Auger electron spectroscopy (AES) could also be considered for surface (<5 nm deep) analyses. At present however, the use of these methods in soil systems is limited. SIMS has been focused on biochemical applications (22), whereas AES... 

In many applications of LA-ICP-MS, an internal standard concentration is unknown and cannot be assumed. Ceramic studies, for instance, sometimes call for characterization of individual components within a heterogeneous matrix [40]. As another example, several pigment colors on a single polychrome sherd may be targeted [48]. While an electron microprobe or micro-XRF could be used to obtain point-specific analysis of the individual components, the extra sample preparation and analysis would dramatically increases total analysis time, and the necessary ancillary instrumentation may not always be available. Gratuze [49,50] proposed a way around the problem of unknown internal standard concentrations that applies to silicate materials and has been widely adapted in archaeological LA-ICP-MS studies. 

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