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Characterising volcanic glass sources in the Banks Islands, Vanuatu
Author(s) -
REEPMEYER CHRISTIAN
Publication year - 2008
Publication title -
archaeology in oceania
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
eISSN - 1834-4453
pISSN - 0728-4896
DOI - 10.1002/j.1834-4453.2009.tb00038.x
Subject(s) - lava , volcano , volcanic glass , geology , geochemistry , mineralogy , volcanic rock
In 2006 volcanic glass deposits on Vanua Lava and Gaua Islands were re‐visited and systematically sampled. Twenty‐nine source samples were analysed using EDXA‐SEM and LA‐ICP‐MS with a focus on detecting possible intrasource variation. The results show both Banks Islands deposits are readily distinguishable from each other and from other sources in the region and their chemical compositions are highly homogenous. Surface survey of other prospective areas established that these two are the only volcanic glass sources in the Banks Islands.