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Identifying the Mineralogy of Rock Temper in Ceramics Using X-Radiography

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  20 January 2017

Christopher Carr  and
Jean-Christophe Komorowski
Christopher Carr
Affiliation:
Department of Anthropology, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ 85287–2401
Jean-Christophe Komorowski
Affiliation:
Institute de Physique du Globe de Paris, 4 Place Jussieu, Tour 14-24, Boite 89, 75252 Paris, Cedex 05, France
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Abstract

Industrial and medical x-radiography can be used in a manner analogous to back-scattered electron microscopy to identify the approximate mineralogy of rock temper particles in ceramics, but without their destruction by thin-sectioning, and at low cost. Particle traits similar to those used in petrography to identify a mineral are visible in a magnified x-radiograph. The traits include particle x-radiographic gray level, which varies with a particle’s mean atomic number, specific gravity, and mineralogy; size; morphology; cleavage; and internal texture. Blind tests are made to evaluate the specificity and accuracy of the method. Its utility is shown through a study of the exchange of Ohio Middle Woodland ceramics.

La radiografia-x industrial y médica puede ser usadas en manera análoga a la microscopía electrónica de barrido, para identificar la mineralogía de las partículas de roca usadas como desgrasantes en la cerámica. Con este estudio las muestras de cerámica se destruyen minimamente ya que solo es necesario cortar una sección delgada, además de que el proceso se realiza a un bajo costo. Las características de las partículas similares a las usadas en la petrografia para identificar un mineral son visibles en una radiografia-x amplificada. Estos razgos incluyen el nivel gris de la particula en la radiographía-x, que varía dependiendo de su número medio atómico, gravedad específica y mineralogía; tamaño; morfología; escisión; y textura interna. Se realizan “pruebas de ciego” para evaluar la especificidad y precisión del método. La utilidad se demuestra a través de un estudio del intercambio de cerámica en Ohio Middle Woodland.

Type
Reports
Information
American Antiquity , Volume 60 , Issue 4 , October 1995 , pp. 723 - 749
Copyright
Copyright © The Society for American Archaeology 1995

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