X-ray fluorescence spectroscopy and Monte Carlo characterization of a unique nuragic artifact (Sardinia, Italy)

Brunetti, Antonio; Depalmas, Anna; Gennaro, Francesco Di; Serges, Alessandra; Schiavon, Nick

doi:10.1016/j.sab.2016.04.007

Cited by 16 publications

(11 citation statements)

References 21 publications

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“…The results obtained from the XRF analyses are affected by the silver‐rich surface layer. This problem could be solved by the Monte Carlo simulation methods that have been used generally for XRF spectroscopy since the 1970s (Hawthorne and Gardner ) and more recently, with high efficiency, for layered systems on coins (Brunetti et al ). Although this is a state‐of‐the art method, its use was not among the purposes of the research presented here.…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Determination of the Fineness of Medieval Coins—Evaluation of Methods in a Case Study of a Medieval Pfennig

et al. 2017

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The original fineness of coins is very important information that can help us to understand the commercial situation in a wide historical context. This paper deals with a comparison of analytical methods suitable for the evaluation of the actual and original fineness of coins based on a detailed case study of a medieval coin sample. Both non-destructive (i.e., scanning electron microscopy/energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy, X-ray fluorescence, atomic force microscopy and hydrostatic weighing) and destructive (i.e., inductively coupled plasmamass spectrometry and the Volhard titration method) techniques were used. The original fineness can be also deduced from knowledge of the internal structure of the coin (limited miscibility of copper and silver). A new analytical method based on a combination of a micrograph of the metallographic cross-section with consequent image analysis was developed for determination of the original fineness. The proposed approach is relatively simple and provides reliable values. Sample heterogeneity and its impact on the determination of fineness are also discussed.

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Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Determination of the Fineness of Medieval Coins—Evaluation of Methods in a Case Study of a Medieval Pfennig

et al. 2017

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“…A threshold was set at the third order, as errors in the atomic parameters accumulate with a growing interaction order and may result in a loss of significance. This methodology has already been extensively used with archaeological manufacts [7,[18][19][20].…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Monte Carlo Simulations of ED-XRF Spectra as an Authentication Tool for Nuragic Bronzes

2021

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The high artistic and cultural relevance of particular objects, in this case from the Nuragic civilization, have stimulated the growth of a forgery industry, replicating small bronze boats (navicelle), statues (bronzetti), and other objects. It is often the case where the forgeries are of such quality that it becomes difficult to distinguish them from authentic artifacts without a proper chemical analysis. In this research, a Monte Carlo simulation algorithm for X-ray interactions with matter is used to obtain the chemical composition from the bulk of each object from a set of five. The method employed has the advantage of being completely nondestructive and relatively fast. The objects’ chemical composition and morphology were compared with the data available from authentic artifacts so their authenticity could be inferred. Four of the five objects are likely to be authentic, where two of them could be associated with a Sardinian origin.

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“…Using pXRF for the accurate determination of metal alloy artworks composition in situ at the museum is a real challenge. There are some difficulties, such as problems with measurement geometry (measurement distance, sample positioning, irradiation spot, X-ray penetration depth), artwork surface (non flat surfaces, the presence of different materials layers), pXRF equipment calibration (difficulties to find and/or buy several standards in the concentration range of the samples) [51,52,53,54] . In this study, although the laboratorymade pXRF equipment employed has a fixed geometry and was used in a benchtop stand, the samples have different shapes and sizes in which make the positioning of the pieces difficult for measuring (see Figure 2).…”

Section: Archaeological Samples Quantificationmentioning

confidence: 99%

X‐ray fluorescence spectroscopy and Monte Carlo simulation for quantitative characterization of Bolivian pre‐Hispanic golden artefacts

et al. 2020

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The quantification of archaeological artefacts with X-ray Fluorescence is quite complex because it demands some calibration procedure. It is also rather more challenging when the customization of the portable equipment for in situ measurements is required. The objective of this study was to introduce a quantitative method by performing a calibration curve for a ternary gold alloy (Au, Ag and Cu). Fast Monte Carlo simulation combined with in situ portable XRF (pXRF) measurements in order to circumvent the calibration requirement using standard reference materials was used. Measurements with a laboratorymade equipment were taken from a set of 16 pre-hispanic gold alloy artefacts of a collection from the Museo Nacional de Etnografia y Folklore, La Paz, Bolivia. The spectra simulation was conducted with the XMI-MSIM software. The results demonstrated that the combined use of pXRF measurements and spectra simulation via Monte Carlo is a feasible method for gold alloy quantification. In the examined samples, the Cu content was below 5% and for Au it ranged from 13 to 100%. Moreover, some peculiarities of the artefacts archaeological context were discussed.

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X-ray fluorescence spectroscopy and Monte Carlo characterization of a unique nuragic artifact (Sardinia, Italy)

Cited by 16 publications

References 21 publications

Determination of the Fineness of Medieval Coins—Evaluation of Methods in a Case Study of a Medieval Pfennig

Determination of the Fineness of Medieval Coins—Evaluation of Methods in a Case Study of a Medieval Pfennig

Monte Carlo Simulations of ED-XRF Spectra as an Authentication Tool for Nuragic Bronzes

X‐ray fluorescence spectroscopy and Monte Carlo simulation for quantitative characterization of Bolivian pre‐Hispanic golden artefacts

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