Nondestructive analysis of jade artifacts from the Cemetery of the Ying State in Henan Province, China using confocal Raman microspectroscopy and portable X‐ray fluorescence spectroscopy

Abstract

Confocal Raman microspectroscopy and portable X‐ray fluorescence spectroscopy were used nondestructively to characterise 18 intact jade artifacts from the Cemetery of the Ying State in Pingdingshan, Henan Province, China. These jade artifacts date from the early to the middle of the Western Zhou Period (the mid‐11th to the mid‐9th century BC). Thirteen jade artifacts made of tremolite and two jade artifacts made of actinolite were discriminated from each other by their hydroxyl stretching modes, and a malachite pendant, a muscovite dagger‐axe, and a crystal pendant were also identified. Black graphite was analysed in three jade artifacts composed of tremolite, and the mineralization temperatures were estimated and compared. A red powder was found on the surface of all of the jade artifacts, and this was found to be cinnabar (HgS), which is thought to have been added to the tomb environments during burial ceremonies. The chemical compositions and the possible provenances of the jade artifacts are briefly discussed. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

Investigation of some Chinese jade artifacts (5000 BC to 771 BC) by confocal laser micro‐Raman spectroscopy and other techniques

“…The strongest peak around 460 cm −1 is attributed to Si–O bending vibration, and the peak at 204 cm −1 is assigned to SiO 4 rotary vibration or translational vibration. The Raman spectra of this artifact are obviously quartz according to our previously published studies . Its result for PIXE analysis is shown in Table S2 (SiO 2 97.05%) and indicates that HNWKII‐1 is made from quartz.…”

“…In addition, three green artifacts (HC‐5, HNZZ‐43, and HNWKV‐13) are similar in color, but some variations of peaks' intensities and locations in their Raman spectra were observed. Our published study on HNWKV‐13 proved that the mineral structure of this artifact is malachite . Although HC‐5 is seriously weathered, the most intense band is at 1020 cm −1 (Fig.…”

“…Approximately 1000 jade artifacts unearthed from the Yellow and Yangtze River basins have been analyzed by us in the past 5 years . Over half of these samples are made from nephrite, but there are still a certain amount of them made from other stones.…”

A jade parrot from the tomb of Fu Hao at Yinxu and Liao sacrifices of the Shang Dynasty

“…The peaks at 1062cm −1 and 1031cm −1 reflect the anti-symmetric stretching vibration of Si-O-Si; the peak at 932cm −1 demonstrates the symmetric stretching vibration of O-Si-O; and the peak at 676cm −1 shows the symmetric stretching vibration of Si-O-Si (Rinaudo et al 2004). For the shifts shorter than 676cm −1 , the peaks at 438cm −1 , 417cm −1 , 396cm −1 , 371cm −1 and 351cm −1 are related with the vibration of M-OH (M = Ca, Mg, Fe); while the peaks at 252cm −1 , 225cm −1 , 180cm −1 , 161cm −1 and 123cm −1 are probably caused by the crystal lattice vibration (Zhao et al 2014). Hence, the mineral composition of the light green area is consistent with nephrite, a variety of the tremolite-actinolite series of amphiboles (Ca 2 (Mg, Fe 2+ ) 5 Si 8 O 22 (OH) 2 ).…”

Recent advances in linear and non‐linear Raman spectroscopy. Part IX

“…Zhao and co‐workers used confocal Raman microspectroscopy and portable X‐ray fluorescence spectroscopy in the nondestructive analysis of jade artifacts from the Cemetery of the Ying State in Henan Province, China. These jade artifacts date from the early to the middle of the Western Zhou Period (the mid‐11th to the mid‐9th century BC) …”