IDENTIFICATION OF MUMIE BY IR SPECTROSCOPY

IR spectra of 50 standard samples of original natural mumie from the d eposits of South-West and East Pamir, East and Central Kazakhstan, Alt ai, and Tuva have been studied systematically in the 4000-400 cm-1 ran ge. Spectral criteria for identification of mumie as a distinct materi al of complex composition have been found. A method for assessing the of authenticity of the material through the whole set of spectral crit eria is suggested, which enables one to identify reliably the mumie an d to distinguish it from possible substitutes.