IDENTIFYING THE MINERALOGY OF ROCK TEMPER IN CERAMICS USING X-RADIOGRAPHY

Industrial and medical x-radiography can be used in a manner analogous to back-scattered electron microscopy to identify the approximate min eralogy of rock temper particles in ceramics, but without their destru ction by thin-sectioning, and at low cost. Particle traits similar to those used in petrography to identify a mineral are visible in a magni fied x-radiograph. The trails include particle x-radiographic gray lev el, which varies with a particle's mean atomic number, specific gravit y, and mineralogy; size; morphology; cleavage; and internal texture. B lind tests are made to evaluate the specificity and accuracy of the me thod. Its utility is shown through a study of the exchange of Ohio Mid dle Woodland ceramics.