Analysis of archaeological samples and local clays using ICP-AES, TG-DTG and FTIR techniques

The spectrochemical and thermal analysis of different archaeological sample s as bricks, terra-cotta and local clays were carried out. The concentratio n of major and minor elements of samples was determined by sequential induc tively coupled plasma atomic emission spectrometry. The method was tested b y determining Si, Al, Fe, Ca, Mg, Mn, Pb, Cu, Zn, Ti, Na and K in the stand ard solutions and reference material GXR-4. The precision of the determinat ion (relative standard deviation) ranged from 0.4 to 1.54%. The clay minera ls are the main materials for the production of bricks and terra-cotta figu res. Thermogravimetric (TG) and differential (TG-DTG) analysis and Fourier transform infrared spectrometry (FTIR) methods can be used for the study of characteristic reactions, associated with the course of the heating. The T G-DTG curves were obtained in the temperature range 25-900 degrees C, and t he dynamic experiment was carried out in the air and nitrogen atmosphere. T he infrared evolved gas analysis was performed using FTIR in the dynamic ni trogen atmosphere. (C) 2000 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.