A New Methodology for the Provenance of Marble Based on EPR Spectroscopy

Abstract

Fifteen years of research in investigating the characteristics of the EPR spectra of different types of white marble from several quarries in the Eastern Mediterranean has produced an accumulation of a large number of data, and much experience. Statistical treatment of these EPR data (statistical distributions and parameter correlations), has led to the selection of 10 parameters that are useful for quarry discrimination. Apart from the EPR parameters, the maximum grain size, measured with a stereomicroscope, has been found very useful. Boxplots have been found to be very useful as a first easy visual tool for evaluating the discrimination capacity of each parameter.On the basis of these results, a new methodology for determining the provenance of an archaeological sample was developed in stages, using a different pair or combination of parameters each time. In the first stage, the Penteli, Naxos, Hymettus and Proconnessus quarries are completely separated from each other. However, overlapping occurs between the parameter fields of Paros and Proconnessus, Paros and Hymettus and between the two archaic quarries of Melanes and Apollon on Naxos. If the sample is located in a nonoverlapping area, its provenance is obvious and easily determined. If the sample lies in one of the above three overlapping areas, an additional stage is necessary, in which other parameters are used to eliminate or decrease the overlap. Despite the partial overlapping of Paros with other quarries, the famous Lychnites marble of Paros, which was quarried underground, is clearly distinguished.

Provenance and compositional analysis of marbles from the medieval Abbey of San Caprasio, Aulla (Tuscany, Italy)

“…Many studies of the provenance of ancient marbles have been performed thanks to several procedures, including trace elements [6], cathodoluminescence [7,8], electron paramagnetic resonance spectroscopy [9,10], strontium isotopic distribution [11] and chemical analysis of inclusion fluids [12]. However, mineralogical and petrographic investigations, as well as carbon and oxygen stable isotope analyses, are more often used for these purposes .…”

Marble provenance investigation of the Roman Sabine sarcophagus

“…The EPR intensity of the different varieties differs appreciably. Separate classification of the different varieties allows to obtain much improved discrimination (Polikreti and Maniatis, 2002). Inspection of Table 1 confirms that Carrara provides the best fit for the properties of the Sabine sample.…”

“…Conventional techniques, in fact, detect also interstitial impurities which are due to the presence of trace minerals. Large variabilities are usually measured and this greatly decreases the discriminant power of the analyses (Polikreti and Maniatis, 2002).…”

A dorozsmai márvány (Tiszai-főegység) kőzettani újravizsgálata: deformáció és fluidum hatása a mikroszerkezet fejlődésére

“…Általánosan jellemző, hogy a márványok metamorf kőzet -tani szempontból kevesebb figyelmet kapnak, mint a bonyolultabb kémiai rendszert képviselő metabázitok vagy metapelitek. Ennek köszönhető, hogy a márványokkal foglal kozó nemzetközi szakirodalomban elérhető munkák jelentős része archeometriai vonatkozású (POLIKRETI & MANIATIS 2002, ZÖLDFÖLDI 2003, IORDANIDIS et al 2008, MELFOS et al 2010, ZÖLDFÖLDI 2011, AL-BASHAIREH & AL-HOUSAN 2015, ANTONELLI et al 2015, BRILLI et al 2015, RICCA et al 2015. Fontos azonban megemlíteni, hogy a kristályos karbonátkőzetekkel kapcsolatban -azok ásványtani egy szerűsége és relatíve könnyű deformálhatósága következ tében -számos kőzetdeformációs tanulmány született (pl.…”