Elemental analysis through X-ray techniques applied in archeological gold authentication — the case of Transylvanian gold and of the Dacian bracelets

Abstract

To identify the provenance of gold archeological metallic artifacts, trace elements are more significant than the main components. The most promising elements are Platinum Group Elements (PGE), Sn, Sb, Hg, Pb, Te, and Cu. Several minute fragments of natural Transylvanian gold – placers and primary – were studied by micro Particle Induced X-ray Emission (micro-PIXE) at Forschungszentrum Dresden-Rossendorf, Germany and micro Synchrotron Radiation X-Ray Fluorescence (micro SR-XRF) at ANKA Synchrotron Radiation Facility of the Forschungszentrum Karlsruhe, Germany. The goal of the study was to identify the trace elements characterizing Transylvanian gold, especially Sn, Sb, Pb and Te. A spectacular application of these measurements to the authentication of nine Dacian gold bracelets is presented.