Micro-PIXE Geochemical Fingerprinting of Nephrite Neolithic Artifacts from Southwest Bulgaria

作者：Kostov Ruslan I^*; Protochristov Christo; Stoyanov Chavdar; Csedreki Laszlo; Simon Aliz; Szikszai Zita; Uzonyi Imre; Gaydarska Bisserka; Chapman John

来源：Geoarchaeology-An International Journal, 2012, 27(5): 457-469.

DOI：10.1002/gea.21417

Neolithic artifacts made of nephrite, ?Ca2(Fe,Mg)5Si8O22(OH)2, are found at prehistoric settlements in Bulgaria. This study investigates these objects based on particle induced X-ray emission using a scanning nuclear microprobe (micro-PIXE technique). Seven nephrite artifacts from the Neolithic sites of Kovachevo, Bulgarchevo and Galabnik in southwest Bulgaria were analyzed to quantify their composition and to establish if a correlation exists between the distribution of major and trace elements, color, impurities, and texture. The nephrite artifacts are tremolite in composition, with a proposed ultrabasic origin. Based on the geochemical data obtained by micro-PIXE, we divide the artifacts into Group 1 objects from the Kovachevo site and Group 2 objects from the Galabnik and Bulgarchevo sites. The analytical data and microprobe analyses are compared with geochemical data of nephrite from across the globe. The results are in a good agreement with previous electron microprobe and electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) spectroscopy data. Our study provides a better understanding of the mineralogy and geochemistry of nephrite artifacts and helps to address questions regarding origin and the distribution of such materials in Bulgaria and other Balkan countries.

• 出版日期2012-10