Provenance studies of the white marble of the cathedral of Como by neutron activation analysis and data reduction

Abstract

Marble samples from major Italian quarries and from the Como Cathedral were analyzed for their trace element content, which is indicative of their provenance. Ca, Sc, Cr, Mn, Fe, Co, Rb, Sb, Cs, Ba, La, Ce, Sm, Eu, Gd, Ho, Tm, Yb, Lu, Hf, Th and U elements were determined by neutron activation analysis. Results as well as their precision and accuracy are presented and discussed. Data treatment has allowed to characterize the marble quarries on the basis of their trace element content, to identify the provenance of the marble used in the Como Cathedral and to show differences in the element distribution of new and weathered marble samples from the same quarry.