Premium
COMPOSITION PROFILES AND TIME EVOLUTION OF BURIED MARBLE PATINAS BY LA–ICP–MS AND LASER‐INDUCED MICRO‐PHOTO‐LUMINESCENCE
Author(s) -
POLIKRETI K.,
CHRISTOFIDES C.
Publication year - 2010
Publication title -
archaeometry
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.716
H-Index - 67
eISSN - 1475-4754
pISSN - 0003-813X
DOI - 10.1111/j.1475-4754.2010.00531.x
Subject(s) - mineralogy , geology , dissolution , luminescence , photoluminescence , laser , materials science , atmosphere (unit) , composition (language) , chemistry , optics , optoelectronics , art , literature , thermodynamics , physics
The present work aims to study surface composition profiles on buried marbles as well as their time evolution. Fifty samples from gravestones, buried for up to 80 years, were analysed by laser‐induced photoluminescence and LA–ICP–MS. The results include profiles of 25 Mg, 27 Al, 55 Mn, 57 Fe, 88 Sr and organic complexes of calcium, existing in the marble patina. The depth at which 88 Sr reaches its bulk value proved to be the best parameter to measure patina thickness. A diffusion model adopted from dissolution studies made on gravestones exposed to the atmosphere was successfully applied to the patina thickness data. The model fails to predict patina thicknesses for ancient excavated objects. However, it seems that ‘Sr alteration depth’ values alone can be used for discriminating ancient from recently buried surfaces.