Testing the accuracy of portable X-ray fluorescence to study Aztec and Colonial obsidian supply at Xaltocan, Mexico

Silk Road glass in Xinjiang, China: chemical compositional analysis and interpretation using a high-resolution portable XRF spectrometer

“…Recently published papers illustrate both some of the possibilities and some of the problems. The first (Millhauser et al, 2011) compares the efficacy of a handheld pXRF spectrometer, operated without vacuum, to laboratory XRF on the same samples; the task is to provenance obsidian from central Mexico. Although the authors characterize the analytical results as 'inconsistent', with poor, or even negative, least-squares correlation between pXRF and laboratory XRF for individual samples, the difference observed between source areas was great enough that the pXRF values led to the 'correct' attribution of provenance in almost all cases.…”

Deconstructing a complex obsidian “source‐scape”: A geoarchaeological and geochemical approach in northwestern Patagonia

“…We strategically combine geochemical characterization by means of X‐ray fluorescence (XRF) and neutron activation analysis (NAA), considering their respective abilities to discriminate between sources and evaluate intrasource variability (Glascock & Ferguson, ; Millhauser, Rodríguez‐Alegría, & Glascock, ; Shackley et al, ). By generating the necessary geoarchaeological foundation (Glascock, ; Glascock, Braswell, & Cobean, ; Shackley, ), the ultimate goal of this study lies in reconstructing patterns of technological organization, human mobility, and social interaction in a highly heterogeneous Andean landscape, which includes yearlong potential for lowland habitation and limited seasonal availability of highlands and associated resources.…”

Identifying American native and European smelted coppers with pXRF: a case study of artifacts from the Upper Great Lakes region

“…Kellett et al, 2013;Millhauser et al, 2011;Moholy-Nagy et al, 2013). For some other materials the use of pXRF is not as straight forward and the lack of sensitivity for some key elements in ceramic (e.g.…”