Journal
JOURNAL OF RADIOANALYTICAL AND NUCLEAR CHEMISTRY
Volume 291, Issue 1, Pages 19-24Publisher
SPRINGER
DOI: 10.1007/s10967-011-1236-2
Keywords
Neutron activation analysis; k(0)-Neutron activation analysis; Nuclear archaeometry; Method comparison; Ochre
Funding
- Australian Institute of Nuclear Science and Engineering (AINSE) [8103]
- Australian Research Council (ARC) [LP0882597]
- MURR National Science Foundation (NSF) [0802757]
- ANSTO
- MURR
- Australian Research Council [LP0882597] Funding Source: Australian Research Council
- Division Of Behavioral and Cognitive Sci
- Direct For Social, Behav & Economic Scie [0802757] Funding Source: National Science Foundation
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Ochre is a significant material in Aboriginal Australian cultural expression from ceremonial uses to its application on many types of artifacts. However, ochre is a complex material, with associated surrounding minerals potentially challenging the overall analysis. In recent literature several studies have attempted to characterize ochre by a variety of techniques to understand procurement and trade. However, ochre is difficult to differentiate on major elemental or mineralogical composition and requires a detailed analysis of its geochemical fingerprint. Neutron activation analysis (NAA) provides the high sensitivity (sub-ppm), precision and accuracy in multi-elemental analysis required for ochre. The elements of interest for ochre generally include rare earth elements (REEs) and certain transition metal elements as well as arsenic and antimony. Data from relative comparator NAA (MURR, University of Missouri, USA) is compared with data from k (0)-NAA OPAL (ANSTO, Lucas Heights, Australia). A discussion of the two methods will be examined for their utility in fingerprinting the provenance of ochre. The continuing importance of NAA to archaeometry will also be discussed.
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