Spectroscopic methods for the analysis of celadonite and glauconite in Roman green wall paintings

One set of samples from wall paintings of the X-th Regio of Italy containing green colours was analysed exploiting different spectroscopic techniques, aiming to identify the pigments used. The possibility to distinguish between glauconite and celadonite, the most common green pigments used in such paintings, was of particular interest. Samples of celadonite from Monte Baldo and glauconite from Belgium were considered as standard materials for comparison. The results obtained using FTIR, EDS, AAS, Colorimetry, Raman and EPR spectroscopies were compared for the identification of the green pigments. (C) 2011 Elsevier Masson SAS. All rights reserved.