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Glass Characterization Using Laser Ablation-Inductively Coupled Plasma-Mass Spectrometry Methods

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Recent Advances in Laser Ablation ICP-MS for Archaeology

Part of the book series: Natural Science in Archaeology ((ARCHAEOLOGY))

Abstract

The accurate determination of archaeological glass sample composition is challenging due to possible heterogeneity and post-production chemical alteration. Here, depth profiling using the time resolved signal generated by LA-ICP-MS (DP-LA-ICP-MS) is applied to two case studies. The first study concerns corroded Late Bronze Age glass beads. While many varieties of ancient glass beads are corrosion resistant, some recipes are particularly impacted by devitrification, and depth profiling allows for analysis of un-corroded material reflecting original glass composition. In the second case study on a seventeenth century composite glass vessel, depth profiling allowed for measurement of composite layers including a thin ruby gold glass layer and white opaque glass filigree embedded in colorless lead glass. The minimal destructiveness of this technique combined with other advantages of LA-ICP-MS—the large number of elements that can be measured and low detection limits—make this technique ideal for analysis of many kinds of compositionally complex glass objects.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Institut de Recherche sur les Archéomatériaux, Centre Ernest Babelon, CNRS/Université d’Orléans, 3D rue de la Férollerie, 45071, Orléans Cedex 2, France

    Bernard Gratuze

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  1. Bernard Gratuze
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Correspondence to Bernard Gratuze .

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Editors and Affiliations

  1. Integrative Research Center, Elemental Analysis Facility, Field Museum of Natural History, Chicago, Illinois, USA

    Laure Dussubieux

  2. Department of Anthropology, University of Notre Dame, Notre Dame, Indiana, USA

    Mark Golitko

  3. Institut de Recherche sur les Archéomatériaux Centre Ernest Babelon, CNRS/Université d’Orléans, Orléans, France

    Bernard Gratuze

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Gratuze, B. (2016). Glass Characterization Using Laser Ablation-Inductively Coupled Plasma-Mass Spectrometry Methods. In: Dussubieux, L., Golitko, M., Gratuze, B. (eds) Recent Advances in Laser Ablation ICP-MS for Archaeology. Natural Science in Archaeology. Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-662-49894-1_12

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-662-49894-1_12

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