THE BERKELEY EDXRF LAB, SHERWOOD L. WASHBURN UNDERGRADUATE ANTHROPOLOGY LABORATORIES, HEARST GYMNASIUM
X-RAY FLUORESCENCE ANALYSIS OF OBSIDIAN AND OTHER ARCHAEOLOGICAL MATERIALS
The research energy-dispersive (EDXRF) and wavelength dispersive (WXRF) x-ray fluorescence laboratory at Berkeley is providing access to analyses of archaeological and source standard obsidian on a per-sample basis. These analyses are provided by trained undergraduate and graduate students in geology, and archaeology, under the direction of Steven Shackley, who are currently working on various archaeological projects worldwide, particularly in the greater North American Southwest. While the majority of this work is for educational and research purposes, non-research use of the facilities is now encouraged. We would like to stress that the research is focused on analyses of archaeological obsidian from the greater American Southwest including southern California, Baja California, Arizona, New Mexico, Sonora and Chihuahua. We feel strongly, that while other labs can provide adequate instrumental analyses from archaeological material in this region, we can provide more reliable provenance assignments and archeological interpretation given our direct experience with the sources and archaeology in the field. We are frequently in the field locating, mapping, and documenting newly discovered sources of archeological obsidian and dacite.
Wavelength-Dispersive X-Ray Fluorescence Spectrometer (WDXRF)
In a cooperative venture with the Department of Earth and Planetary Sciences, we received funding from the National Science Foundation and the campus and acquired a Philips 2400 wavelength dispersive x-ray fluorescence spectrometer. This instrument allows for the destructive analysis of archaeological obsidian, other raw materials, and ceramics with precision near that of NAA for many elements.
The Quant'X Energy-Dispersive X-Ray Fluorescence Spectrometer (EDXRF)
The National Science Foundation funded EDXRF laboratory, the daughter lab of pioneering archaeological applications of EDXRF by Ian Carmichael, Robert F. Heizer, and Robert Jack, is located in the Department of Anthropology, University of California, Berkeley. The new Thermo Scientific transportable EDXRF replaces the old Spectrace 440 and Spectrace QuanX. EDXRF spectrometers are particularly adapted to non-destructive analyses of archaeological obsidian, and unlike the Philips WXRF, above, the Quant'X can analyze larger samples, and can acquire elements Ti, Mn, and Fe with greater precision for non-destructive samples. And perhaps most importantly, the Quant'X is devoted to archaeological analyses.
TO A Short History of XRF and Obsidian studies at Berkeley
Agazi Negash in sample prep lab working on the Ethiopian obsidian samples.
We can provide letter or comprehensive reports and strongly encourage you to consult with us during your planning stages to discuss sampling issues. We have wide experience in all spatial and temporal contexts as witnessed by the selected bibliography provided. We can provide quantitative non-destructive elemental analyses of obsidian, other volcanic rocks, secondary siliceous sediments (cherts and chalcedony), and ceramics usually within two to three weeks. Results sent through e-mail immediately after completion.
Many researchers from a variety of organizations have used the Berkeley EDXRF facilities for the analysis of archaeological materials including, the U.S. Forest Service, the Bureau of Land Management, the Laboratory of Archaeology, Museum of New Mexico, the Instituto Nacional de Antropología e Historia (INAH) at a variety of offices in northern Mexico, the Institute of Archaeology and Ethnography, Siberian Branch of the Russian Academy of Science, and a large variety of Cultural Resource Management firms, mainly in the Southwest and southern California.
Please consider our instrumental facilities for your analytical needs. If you have any questions at all, please feel free to contact us by mail, phone, fax or Internet.
Elements analyzed: Ti, Mn, Fe, Co, Ni, Cu, Zn, Ga, Rb, Sr, Y, Zr, Pb, Th in parts per million (ppm). Barium is measured when necessary, or at request for $5.00 more per sample. Sample sizes down to 3 mm in smallest dimension. Call if many samples < 10 mm in smallest dimension.
Oxide analyses for SiO2, Al2O3, CaO, Fe2O3, K2O, MgO, MnO, Na2O, TiO2, available non-destructively, but accuracy is not as high-quality as destructive WXRF analysis. Best if samples > 20 mm in smallest dimension.
Professor and Director
TELEPHONE: 510/642-2533
FAX: 510/643-9637
Campus Address:
Department of Anthropology
232 Kroeber Hall
University of California
Berkeley, CA 94720-3710
Off-campus address:
PO Box 2474
El Cerrito, CA 94530-2474
CAUTION ON SHIPPING: The University of California mail services lost a certified mail package sent from New Mexico a few years ago. It never arrived at my mail box, and was not recovered for five months. We strongly advise shipping artifacts by FedEx or UPS, both of which deliver directly to our office. If you must ship through USPS, use the off-campus P.O. Box.
Note: These are commercial prices. The proceeds from these projects are used to defray costs incurred by the, the UC Radiation Safety Office inspections and dosimetry, fund students, and provide supplies for continuing field and lab work. Geological source samples are generally analyzed at no cost. Please call before field sampling, if possible.
With the acquisition of the new
Quant'X EDXRF, we can now offer rates based on the number of samples. Our primary purpose is to
provide training to students and fund research in the greater American
Southwest.
1-20 = $25.00 per sample
21-50 = $22.00 per sample
51-100= $21.00 per sample
101+ = $20.00 per sample
Let me see the Sample Submission Form!
(
PDF version)
The fine print: All data analyzed by this laboratory are the intellectual property of the laboratory and the Regents of the University of California under the direction of M. Steven Shackley. |
This page maintained by Steve Shackley (shackley@berkeley.edu).
Copyright © 2010 M. Steven Shackley. All rights reserved.
Revised: Saturday, 08 May 2010
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