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Updated: Nov 30, 2025

Synchrotron X-ray Microdiffraction and Fluorescence Imaging of Mineral and Rock Samples
Published on: June 19, 2018
Handheld X-ray fluorescence geochemical data of geological and archaeological obsidian from Sonora, Mexico
Jesús Roberto Vidal-Solano1, Alejandra Marisela Gómez-Valencia1,2,3, Adriana Hinojo-Hinojo4
1Departamento de Geología, Universidad de Sonora (UNISON), Hermosillo, México.
Abstract:
Geochemical detection using a portable XRF analyser is highly effective for nondestructive surface analysis in archaeological and geological obsidians. The data obtained in rock slabs, fragments, anhydrous nuclei, flaked and ground stone from Sonora, Mexico, were used to select certain analysed elements (Fe, Mn, Zr, Nb, Y, Th, Rb, Sr, Zn) that help to formulate geochemical variation diagrams to identify chemical trends and correlations between the samples. It proves to be an excellent analytical method for the provenance studies of archaeological artifacts. Subsequently, the integration of the obtained data here and their arrangement with the existing chemical analysis of obsidians for different localities of NW Mexico and the SW of the United States will allow for better knowledge of the primary sources of obsidian in the extraction and manufacture of archaeological artifacts.
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