ISSN: 2573-1734
Authors: Traiber JE, Baker BW and Espinoza EO*
Handheld XRF can be used as a screening tool, allowing rapid elemental analysis of materials in-situ. In this study, 280 ivory samples from 7 different species and 20 bone samples from 15 species were analyzed using a SciAps X-50 handheld XRF spectrometer. The data collected were used to establish a light element (LE) percentage range of 50.3% to 75.5%, and a calcium (Ca) percentage range of 24.5% to 49.5%. All ivory samples fall within these ranges, which represent the overall variation observed in ivory. Additionally, the XRF device was used to analyze the elemental composition of 123 samples from 10 biological and nonbiological material types frequently used as ivory substitutes (i.e, ivory look-alikes). The results showed that all look-alike values, except for bone, fall outside the experimental ranges established for ivory. Moreover, some materials have higher concentrations of other elements not present in ivory, such as titanium (Ti). The composition of bones was similar to ivory and could not be distinguished from ivory using this method alone. A significant difference in LE and Ca proportions was observed between cementum and dentin tissues in ivory from elephant. However, this difference falls within the overall variation when all species are considered. Multivariate analysis showed that species of origin of ivory samples could not be determined using this method. Six (6) blind validation samples were analyzed and correctly classified as ivory or substitutes using the established ranges. Our conclusion is that handheld XRF analysis can effectively assist in identifying genuine ivory and ivory look-alike materials, along with traditional morphological analysis, especially when Schreger lines are not visible on small carved objects.
Keywords: Ivory; Spectrometer
