Abstract

Abstract X-ray microfluorescence (XRMF) is spatially resolved x-ray fluorescence (XRF) analysis of elemental composition. Formerly available only at synchrotron sources, recent development of commercial instruments has brought a tamer version of this technique into the size and price range of the academic laboratory. Our Kevex Omicron system features a primary beam diameter as small as 30 μm, with an energy dispersive spectrometer collecting the x-ray spectrum from Na to U. The micro-positioning stage and optical microscope permit selective spatially resolved analysis on the surfaces of objects as large as a desktop dictionary. The large sample stage, functional spatial resolution, and non-destructive analysis present significant opportunities for elemental analysis of a variety of archaeological materials. In particular, objects which for aesthetic, religious, regulatory, or economic reasons cannot be subjected to any alteration in sample preparation may still be analyzed by XRMF. Our laboratory has been conducting a number of investigations which illustrate the potential impact of XRMF technology on archaeometry.

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