External-beam PIXE characterization of volcanic material used in ancient Roman mortars

P. Sonck-Koota, Alf Lindroos, Jan-Olof Lill, Johan Rajander, E-M Viitanen, F. Marra, MH Pehkonen, J. Suksi, Sven-Johan Heselius

    Forskningsoutput: TidskriftsbidragArtikelVetenskapligPeer review

    4 Citeringar (Scopus)

    Sammanfattning

    Volcanic deposits from two volcanic districts, Monti Sabatini (MSVD) and Colli Albani (CAVD), NW and SE of Rome, were analyzed using the particle-induced X-ray emission (PIXE) technique, in order to obtain chemical fingerprints that can be used for provenance studies of filler materials in ancient Roman mortars. The rock samples were mounted on an X-Y stage enabling scanning over the sample surface and irradiated in air with a collimated 3 MeV proton beam. The samples were either analyzed by scanning the beam over a polished surface or they were crushed, ground and homogenized prior to the irradiation. However, scanning over polished sample surfaces avoiding heterogeneities gave quite similar results as scanning over pellet surfaces, especially for the minor and trace elements. This study shows that the deposits of MSVD and CAVD can be distinguished from each other. Several elements or elemental ratios can be used to characterize the districts. Even the individual volcanic deposits of CAVD can be identified. (C) 2008 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.
    OriginalspråkOdefinierat/okänt
    Sidor (från-till)2367–2370
    Antal sidor4
    TidskriftNuclear Instruments and Methods in Physics Research Section B: Beam Interactions with Materials and Atoms
    Volym266
    Nummer10
    DOI
    StatusPublicerad - 2008
    MoE-publikationstypA1 Tidskriftsartikel-refererad

    Nyckelord

    • external-beam
    • PIXE
    • pozzolana
    • provenance studies
    • Roman mortars
    • volcanic rocks

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