Sulfur and iron speciation in recently recovered timbers of the Mary Rose revealed via X-ray absorption spectroscopy

Wetherall, Karen; Moss, Robert M.; Jones, A.; Smith, Andrew D.; Skinner, Theo; Pickup, David M.; Goatham, Stephen W.; Chadwick, Alan V.; Newport, Robert J.

doi:10.1016/j.jas.2007.09.007

Cited by 61 publications

(53 citation statements)

References 23 publications

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“…51 Ferrous sulfates (such as melanterite and rozenite) are common weathering products formed during abiotic chemical pyrite oxidation and their precipitation is dependent on relative humidity and time. 52 …”

Section: X-ray Diffraction (Xrd)mentioning

confidence: 99%

Archaeological ceramic amphorae from underwater marine environments: Influence of firing temperature on salt crystallization decay

López-Arce

Zornoza-Indart

Gomez-Villalba

et al. 2013

Journal of the European Ceramic Society

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Non-desalinated and desalinated fragments of Iberian, Italic and Tarraconensian amphorae sherds, found in different underwater marine environments, were compared to determine both their state of conservation and the decay caused by salt crystallization. Polarizing light and fluorescence optical microscopy, scanning electron microscopy coupled to energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction, ion chromatography and mercury intrusion porosimetry tests were conducted on the samples. Non-desalinated samples or samples in which desalination was not wholly effective exhibit a variety of signs of degradation, especially in those samples fired at lower firing temperature. Sherds fired at higher temperatures have lower surface area and less connected porosity, which entail a lower absorption of soluble salts containing water and eventually less decay. The composition and texture reached with the firing temperature is a key factor on salt crystallization decay and hence on the durability of these artifacts. This should be taken into account during desalination procedures that have to be optimized in order to be successful.

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Section: X-ray Diffraction (Xrd)mentioning

confidence: 99%

Archaeological ceramic amphorae from underwater marine environments: Influence of firing temperature on salt crystallization decay

López-Arce

Zornoza-Indart

Gomez-Villalba

et al. 2013

Journal of the European Ceramic Society

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“…Consequently, when this step is performed quickly without any caution, the woods tend to shrink and crack, losing their coherence. Such a problem is challenging not only for paleontological woods but also for archeological waterlogged woods that may contain iron sulfides because of bacteriological activity (Wetherall et al, 2008;Fors et al, 2012). Drying issues are also of concern for present woods, even though they are free of iron sulfides.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Neutron imaging investigation of fossil woods: non-destructive characterization of microstructure and detection of in situ changes as occurring in museum cabinets

et al. 2017

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Abstract. This paper discusses the applicability of neutron imaging techniques for probing the internal microstructure of several fossil woods upon wetting and drying, two phenomena occurring in museum cabinets and endangering the fossil woods. Investigations were carried out using lignites (fossil woods) from two French localities (Rivecourt, Parisian Basin, Oise -Paleogene; Angeac, Aquitanian Basin, Charente -Cretaceous), which present different macroscopic behavior upon drying. Thanks to the high sensitivity of neutrons to hydrogen content, it was possible to track water diffusion through 3 mm thick samples and to follow in situ changes related to either supply or withdrawal of water without any special preparation and in a relevant time range (from 1 min to a few hours). Classical image analysis allows discriminating between the behavior of the two fossil woods with regard to their interaction with water. Further analysis based on a Fourier transform of projection images provides additional information regarding the existence of large pores in one of the samples. Differences in pore network and internal structures have important mechanical consequences as one of the samples retains its integrity upon drying, whereas the other one shatters into pieces. A better understanding of the underlying processes will clearly require multi-scale analyses, using additional techniques that could probe the materials at a lower scale. Such a combination of multi-scale analyses should provide valuable information for a better conservation of wood remnants, which is crucial for both paleobotanical research and museum exhibits.

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“…There is an enormous breadth of problems to which the technique has been applied; ranging from the origin of Ancient Greek (5th century BCE) burial vessels [20], to the deterioration of medieval stained glass windows [21], to degradation of historic documents by iron gall ink [22] and to the origin of van Gogh's yellow paint [23]. Artefacts that have been a particular focus for XAS studies are waterlogged archaeological timbers, namely the historic ships the Vasa [24][25][26][27][28][29][30][31] and the Mary Rose [32][33][34][35][36][37][38][39][40]. It is this latter ship that has been of interest to the current group of authors with a special interest in the 'sulfur problem'.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

The application of X-ray absorption spectroscopy in archaeological conservation: Example of an artefact from Henry VIII warship, the Mary Rose

Chadwick

Berko

Schofield

et al. 2016

Journal of Non-Crystalline Solids

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We report a microfocus X-ray absorption (XAS) investigation of a thin film sample from an iron contaminated wooden arrow tip raised from the seabed with the Mary Rose. The XAS studies were combined with optical and scanning electron microscopy measurements. The arrow tip had been treated with polyethylene glycol (PEG) soon after it had been raised and stored in a controlled environment. The measurements revealed a significant concentration of iron sulfide nanoparticles. This indicates that in this sample there was a reduction of the oxidative effects of the normal ambient atmosphere that is usually seen in untreated timbers. The film was treated overnight with an aqueous solution of diethylenetriaminepentaacetic acid (DTPA), which is normally very effective in sequestering iron. This had little effect in terms of removing iron from the film and possible explanations are discussed.

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Sulfur and iron speciation in recently recovered timbers of the Mary Rose revealed via X-ray absorption spectroscopy

Cited by 61 publications

References 23 publications

Archaeological ceramic amphorae from underwater marine environments: Influence of firing temperature on salt crystallization decay

Archaeological ceramic amphorae from underwater marine environments: Influence of firing temperature on salt crystallization decay

Neutron imaging investigation of fossil woods: non-destructive characterization of microstructure and detection of in situ changes as occurring in museum cabinets

The application of X-ray absorption spectroscopy in archaeological conservation: Example of an artefact from Henry VIII warship, the Mary Rose

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