Presentation

Group of Applied Geochemistry & Luminescence on Cultural Heritage

Last update 04-02-2010

The Group of Applied Geochemistry & Luminescence on Cultural Heritage (GeoLuC) is mainly dedicated to the scientific investigation and conservation of the Portuguese cultural heritage, through the application of nuclear methods, geochemistry, chemistry and mineralogy.

Its scientific activity includes the application of neutron activation methods based on the nuclear research reactor, in order to study the origin and production technologies of ceramics, as well as the study of the alteration of building material from national monuments.

In way to establish chronologies and to resolve problems connected with the age of the products and of the deposits, it is available for the archaeological/geological scientific communities a Dating Laboratory by Luminescence.

Apart from serving, the group is involved in fundamental research, using the facilities available at ITN.

1. Main Activities

The Group of Applied Geochemistry & Luminescence on Cultural Heritage has been developing scientific activities in the application of nuclear methods in various fields in archaeometry, environmental monitoring and palaeoclimatology, as well as geochemistry, chemistry and mineralogy.

Analytical methods available:

*unique on the Iberian Peninsula; **unique in Portugal.

Compositional and Provenance Studies of Archaeological MaterialArchaeological material photo (3 KB).).

  • Provenance and production technologies of historic and prehistoric artifacts, with an emphasis on ceramics and rocks;
  • Sourcing of raw-material (clay, marble, quartzite, etc.).
Building Patrimony photo (35 KB).

Building Patrimony

  • Degradation and conservation studies of monumental patrimony (volcanic and granite rocks);
  • Sourcing of building material.

The geochemical study of degraded monuments is an integral part of the CHS group.
Currently, this group is studying different monuments of special scientific/cultural interest, which include churches from the Azores and the cathedral of Évora. These monuments represent a network of sites classified by the UNESCO as international Cultural Heritage, and are indeed reflecting the richness and the diversity of Portuguese's history. The research mainly focuses on Geochemistry (INAA), Mineralogy and 57Fe Mössbauer Spectroscopy applied to stone degradation/conservation. Related studies involve the examination of mineral breakdown and the stability of secondary phases with the purpose of understanding and assessing their influence in the movement and fixing of chemical elements at and near the Earth’s surface in order to better target the remediation methods. The geochemical and mineralogical study of stones from monuments comprises different steps, starting with original quarry identification, followed by primary mineral transformation, through to secondary salt phase occurrence. Attempts are made, to link the policies of conservation and geochemical/mineralogical studies of the degraded stone.

Dating

Environmental monitoring

  • Contamination studies of soils;
  • Compositional studies of materials (fuel, paint, residues, etc.).

2. Equipment and Infrastructures

Main infrastructures are the following:

See also equipment financed under the National Program for Scientific Research (FCT)

A leaflet on Luminescence Dating and the ITN Luminescence Laboratory is available: leaflet.


3. Technical Services

Services available:

  • Neutron Activation Analysis (contact e-mail): inaa@itn.pt.
  • Luminescence Dating (contact e-mail):: tl-osl@itn.pt, or fill in questionnaire.

3.1. Instrumental Neutron Activation Analysis
  1. High sensitivity multi-elemental chemical analysis: environment, earth sciences, forensic, archaeology, medicine, material sciences, health.
  2. Samples: water, soils, sediments, rocks, plants, food, animal fluids, animal tissue, glass, ceramic, charcoal and ash, etc.
  3. Sample Size: variable, depending of the elements to be determined (100 mg to 3 g).
  4. Elements: Ag, As, Au, Ba, Br, Ca, Co, Cr, Cs, Fe, Ga, Ge, Hf, Hg, I, In, Ir, K, Mn, Mo, Na, Rb, Re, Sb, Sc, Se, Sr, Ta, Te, Rare Earth (La, Ce, Nd, Sm, Eu, Tb, Dy, Yb e Lu), Th, U, W, Y, Zn e Zr.
  5. Price per sample: INAA costs depend upon the type of sample to be analyzed, amount of sample preparation required, number of samples submitted. Per sample charges are much higher for a single sample than samples within a full batch, with full INAA charges generally ranging from 250 € to 400 € per sample (excluding VAT). For more than 50 samples and research projects in collaboration with CHS considerable price reductions are available.
3.2. Datação por Luminescência
  1. Scientific Areas: archaeology, geology, geography.
  2. Samples: sediment, heated rocks, ceramics.
  3. Sample Size:
    Heated objects: minimum dimensions of samples are 8 x 40 x 40 mm with minimum weight of 12 - 15 g.
    Sediment samples have to be taken by a member of the laboratory.
  4. Price per sample: prices depend on number and type of samples, as well as on the status of the customer. Commercial prices for single samples are 800 € (excl. VAT) for sediment dating, and 500 € for the dating of heated objects. Research institutions will benefit from subsidized prices. For further information, please contact us using the e-mail: tl-osl@itn.pt, and/or fill out the questionnaire below.
  5. Sample questionnaire luminescence dating: questionnaire (75 KB).

Obs.: See the leaflet on Luminescence Dating and the ITN luminescence laboratory: leaflet.



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