Micro-EDXRF surface analyses of a bronze spear head: Lead content in metal and corrosion layers

E. Figueiredo, P. Valério, M. F. Araújo, J. C. Senna-Martinez

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

40 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

A bronze spear head from Central Portugal dated to Late Bronze Age has been analyzed by non-destructive micro-EDXRF in the metal surface and corrosion layers. The artifact had previously been analyzed using a conventional EDXRF spectrometer having a larger incident beam. The quantification of the micro-EDXRF analyses showed that lead content in corrosion layers can reach values up to four times higher than the content determined in the metal surface. Results obtained with the higher energy incident beam from the EDXRF equipment, although referring mainly to the corrosion layers, seem to suffer some influence from the surface composition of the metallic alloy.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)725-727
Number of pages3
JournalNuclear Instruments and Methods in Physics Research Section A: Accelerators, Spectrometers, Detectors and Associated Equipment
Volume580
Issue number1 SPEC. ISS.
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 21 Sept 2007

Keywords

  • Archaeometallurgy
  • Bronze alloy
  • Late Bronze Age
  • Lead
  • Micro-EDXRF

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