Abstract
Laser ablation coupled to mass quadrupole spectrometry (LAMQS) represents a versatile, microinvasive, and high-sensitivity technique to analyze chemical compounds, elements, and isotopes at concentration up to ppm order. Such techniques consist on the irradiation, in high vacuum, of a small, solid part of the surface, in consisting in a superficial removal of atoms, ions, and molecules, in which the produced vapor is analyzed with a compact mass spectrometer.
Depth profiles of elements and compounds can be accurately estimated controlling the laser penetration depth and the laser repetition rate. The LAMQS technique was applied to old bronze coins coming from different archaeological sites of the Mediterranean basin.
LAMQS is preceded by characteristic X-ray analysis, the quantity of which is calculated by comparison with standard reference samples of known concentration.
The comparison with the experimental isotopic ratios with the literature databases gives back, as a fingerprint, information about the lead minerals coming from old mines. Thus, in other words, such analysis allows to determine, with the historical and archaeological support, the provenance of the materials employed to forge the coins.
In particular, it was possible to identify two different bronze alloys coming from Alexandria of Egypt third–sixth centuries A.C. and Greece between fourth B.C. and first A.C., as it will be presented and discussed.
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Torrisi, L., Cutroneo, M., Torrisi, A. (2022). Mass Quadrupole Spectrometry Coupled to Laser Ablation for Cultural Heritage Applications. In: D'Amico, S., Venuti, V. (eds) Handbook of Cultural Heritage Analysis. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-60016-7_16
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