An Experimental Investigation on Lead Isotopic Fractionation During Metallurgical Processes

Abstract

In this paper, experiments are designed to imitate the non‐equilibrium evaporation metallurgical process of lead. The lead isotope ratios of the remaining lead liquid with different percentage losses were then determined using high‐solution MC–ICP–MS. The results show that this process does alter lead isotopic ratios of the remaining liquid. However, the variations are so much smaller than the speculated values using the theoretical formula that in most ancient metallurgical processes, the lead isotopic fractionation can be neglected.

Iron isotope analysis of red and black pigments on pottery in Nasca, Peru

“…However, EM images of the archaeological sherds themselves corroborate this finding, showing there is no migration of Fe into the underlying clay substrate. This result parallels studies of other isotopes such as those of Pb suggesting that heating to high temperatures does not significantly alter isotope ratios (Cui and Wu 2011;Habicht-Mauche et al 2000).…”

“…These methods use the significant natural variations in isotopes observed in ore minerals. In cases where the isotopic compositions of the ancient metal objects were not significantly altered during smelting (e.g., Cui and Wu 2011;Gale and Stos-Gale 1982;Gale et al 1999;Stos-Gale and Gale 2009), stable isotope ratios have been used to trace potential ore sources to workshops and finally to artifacts. For example, Habicht-Mauche et al (2000) examined thirteenth century glassy pigments on pottery in the American Southwest and conclude that the Pb isotopic composition of ore minerals added as flux to pigments remains unchanged during production.…”

Ten years of elemental atmospheric metal fallout and Pb isotopic composition monitoring using lichens in northeastern France

“…Lead has four stable isotopes (204,206,207,208), three of which are derived from radioactive decay of U and Th 238,235 U ( 206 Pb,207 Pb) and 232 Th ( 208 Pb). Pb isotopes are not significantly fractionated by anthropogenic activity, such as smelting/ refining (Baron et al, 2009;Cui and Wu, 2011;Gale and Stos-Gale, 1996) and their isotope ratios reflect the age of the source material. Consequently, differences in Pb isotope composition can be used to discriminate different sources.…”

Lead isotopes behavior in the fumarolic environment of the Piton de la Fournaise volcano (Réunion Island)

“…Mass-dependent fractionation of Pb isotopes during experimental sublimation of Pb is now well established, in particular in the case of isotopic measurements by Thermal Ionization Mass Spectrometry (TIMS). Small but resolvable isotopic fractionation was also identified during heating experiments of Pb alloys (Budd et al, 1995;Cui and Wu, 2011). On the other hand, no volatilization-driven fractionation of Pb isotopes has been identified so far in nature (Houtermans et al, 1964;Ferrara et al, 1995;Vallelonga and Mather, 2003;Chugaev et al, 2007;Yudovskaya et al, 2008).…”