Fingerprinting ancient gold with proton beams of different energies

Guerra, Maria

doi:10.1016/j.nimb.2004.02.019

Cited by 57 publications

(42 citation statements)

References 14 publications

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“…The necklace and some of the earrings were investigated by lPIXE (particle-induced X-ray emission) at the extracted beam line of the AGLAE accelerator facility (from the C2RMF in Paris) using a 3-MeV proton beam, and with (1) Si(Li) detectors for the NMS jewellery items and (2) the newly implemented detection system for the LM jewellery items, consisting of several SDD detectors with high active surfaces, increasing the total solid angle of detection of the emitted X-rays [13], and a new scanning system for high spatial resolution fast elemental mapping (down to 10 9 10 lm 2 ), which improves the quality of the data acquired in the case of gold jewellery [14]. In both setups, one of the detectors was covered with a selective filter consisting of 75 lm of Cu to search for trace elements at the conditions defined for the analysis of gold alloys [15]. Quantitative processing of the spectra was carried out with GUPIXWIN software [16], which was coupled to the inhouse TRAUPIXE software developed at the AGLAE facility [17].…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Gold from the tomb of Scribe Beri: a comparative analytical approach to the New Kingdom gold grave goods from Riqqa (Egypt)

Troalen

Guerra

2016

Appl. Phys. A

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The gold necklace and penannular earrings from tomb 296 at Riqqa, containing the coffins of a female and of a male, the latter a scribe named Beri of the reign of Tuthmosis III (eighteenth Dynasty Egypt), were analysed by PIXE, XRF, and EDS, together with eight penannular earrings from other find-spots of the same period. Analysis of jewellery items from tomb 296 at Riqqa revealed the use of high-purity gold alloys and electrum alloys, while the other earrings investigated were found to be made of electrum with high Ag content. Two earrings conserved in different museums were shown to be originally a pair. PIXE mapping revealed the extensive use of a hard soldering technique for the joints, with the solders being obtained by the addition of Cu to the base alloy. The presence of PGE inclusions indicated the use of alluvial gold, but the variability of their composition could be ascribed to the recycling of gold from different origins, in the case of some objects.

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Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Gold from the tomb of Scribe Beri: a comparative analytical approach to the New Kingdom gold grave goods from Riqqa (Egypt)

Troalen

Guerra

2016

Appl. Phys. A

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“…For this reason, the identification of PGEs in a gold alloy is usually identified by determining the trace elements of the gold alloys (for example [18][19][20][21]). Elemental analysis of the more soluble PGEs in gold alloys is difficult to carry out because of their atomic number, as Pt and Pd are very close to the major elements of the gold alloys, respectively Au and Ag.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

A multi-analytical approach to gold in Ancient Egypt: Studies on provenance and corrosion

Tissot

Troalen

Manso

et al. 2015

Spectrochimica Acta Part B: Atomic Spectroscopy

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Recent results from a three-year multi-disciplinary project on Ancient Egyptian gold jewellery revealed that items of jewellery from the Middle Kingdom to the New Kingdom were manufactured using a variety of alluvial gold alloys. These alloys cover a wide range of colours and the majority contain Platinum Group Elements inclusions. However, in all the gold foils analysed, these inclusions were found to be absent. In this work a selection of gilded wood and leather items and gold foil fragments, all from the excavations by John Garstang at Abydos (primarily from Middle Kingdom graves), were examined using Scanning Electron Microscopy-Energy Disperse Spectroscopy (SEM-EDS), X-Ray Fluorescence (μXRF), Particle Induced X-Ray Emission (µPIXE) and Double Dispersive X-Ray Fluorescence (D 2 XRF). The work allowed us to characterise the composition of the base-alloys and also to reveal the presence of Pt at trace levels, confirming the use of alluvial gold deposits. Corrosion products were also investigated in the foils where surface tarnish was visually observed. Results showed that the differences in the colour of corrosion observed for the foils are related not only to the thickness of the corrosion layer but also to a multi-layer structure containing the various corrosion products.

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“…In another research study, Kallithrakas-Kontos et al [13] who have worked on the Alexander silver coins, showed Bi possibly might be used as an indication of mines. The same method has been applied by Guerra [3,[14][15][16] for Au mines and coins. Throughout this study we try to find the relation between silver metals, which have been used for issuing the coins and the source of metal being used for mint house of Ecbatana.…”

Section: Background Of Researchmentioning

confidence: 99%