Hostname: page-component-8448b6f56d-dnltx Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-04-19T20:11:18.126Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

Morphological and Chemical Analyses of Manganese Dioxide Accretions on Mexican Ceramics

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  01 February 2011

Caitlin R. O'Grady
Caitlin R. O'Grady*
Affiliation:
Department of Materials Science and Engineering, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ, U.S.A.
Get access

Abstract

Microscopic analysis of West Mexican ceramics (dating between in the collection of the Department of the Arts of Africa, Oceania and the Americas at the Metropolitan Museum of Art has established five different morphological types of manganese dioxide (MnO2) accretions. The accretions result mostly from a combination of bacterial and weathering activity in post-depositional contexts. Optical microscopy, scanning electron microscopy with energy dispersive x-ray analysis (SEM-EDS) and x-ray fluorescence (XRF) were successful; whereas microchemical spot tests, x-ray diffraction (XRD) and Raman spectroscopy proved inconclusive in the identification and differentiation of the five morphologies. Accretion morphology and substrate characteristics, together, suggest scenarios for the mechanism of formation and offer a qualitative tool for authentication. Accretions were documented using photomicrography, categorized based on empirical observations; sampled and analyzed using SEM-EDS and ND-XRF.

Type
Research Article
Information
MRS Online Proceedings Library (OPL) , Volume 852 , 2004 , OO8.7
Copyright
Copyright © Materials Research Society 2005

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

REFERENCES

1. Aronson, M. and Kingry, D. W., “Patination of Ceramic Objects, Modern and Prehistoric: a Case from West Mexico. In Materials Issues in Art and Archaeology II, eds. Vandiver, P. B., Druzik, J. R. and Wheeler, G., (Materials Research Society, 1991) 571–589.Google Scholar
2. Hochfield, S., “The Mansoor Collection: An In Soluble Controversy?” ARTnews (Summer 1978) 50–57.Google Scholar
3. Dorn, R. I. and Oberlander, T. M., “The Biological Origin of Desert Varnish,” Association of American Geographers Annual Meeting 1981, abstract: 207.Google Scholar
4. Laudermilk, J. D., “On the Origin of Desert Varnish,” American Journal of Science 22:121, (1931) 52.Google Scholar
5. Potter, R. M. and Rossman, G. R., “Desert Varnish: the Importance of Clay Minerals. Science 196:4297, (1977) 1447.Google Scholar
6. Krumbein, W. E. and Jens, K., “Biogenic Rock Varnishes of the Negev Desert (Israel): An Ecological Study of Iron and Manganese Transformation by Cyanobacteria and Fungi,” Oecologia 50, (1981) 26.Google Scholar
7. Perry, R. S., and Adams, J. B., “Desert Varnish: Evidence for Cyclic Deposition of Manganese,” Nature 276> (1978): 490.+(1978):+490.>Google Scholar
8. Bauman, A. J., “Desert Varnish and Marine Ferromanganese Oxide Nodules: Congeneric Phenomena,” Nature 259 (1976): 387–388.Google Scholar
9. Bauman, A. J., “Desert Varnish and Marine Ferromanganese Oxide Nodules: Congeneric Phenomena,” Nature 259 (1976): 387–388, M. Aronson and D. W. Kingery 585.Google Scholar
10. Bauman, A. J., “Desert Varnish and Marine Ferromanganese Oxide Nodules: Congeneric Phenomena,” Nature 259 (1976): 387–388, M. Aronson and D. W. Kingry, 576–7.Google Scholar
11. Laudermilk, J. D. (1931) 59.Google Scholar
12. Taylor-George, S., Palmer, F., Staley, J. T., Borns, D. J., Curtiss, B. and Adams, J. B., “Fungi and Bacteria Involved in Desert Varnish Formation,” Microbial Ecology 9:3: 240 (1983).Google Scholar
13. Krumbein, and Jens, (1981)Google Scholar
14. Eastes, J. W., Hearn, P. P. Jr, Breed, C. S. and McCauley, J. F., “Weathering of a Metal Artifact in a Saharan Environment: Evidence for a Novel Form of Desert Varnish,” Applied Spectroscopy 42:5 (1981), 827–831.Google Scholar
15. Dragovich, D., “Desert Varnish as an Age Indicator for Aboriginal Rock Engravings: A Review of Problems and Prospects,” Archaeology in Oceania 19:2 (1984): 48–56.Google Scholar
16. Dragovich, D., “Varnished Engravings and Rock Weathering Near Broken Hill, Western New South Wales,” Australian Archaeology 18 (1984): 55–62.Google Scholar
17. Dragovich, D., “Varnished Engravings and Rock Weathering Near Broken Hill, Western New South Wales,” Australian Archaeology 18 (1984): 55–62, Hochfield, 50–57.Google Scholar
18. Dragovich, D., “Varnished Engravings and Rock Weathering Near Broken Hill, Western New South Wales,” Australian Archaeology 18 (1984): 55–62, M. Aronson and D. W. Kingery, 576.Google Scholar
19. Dragovich, D., “Varnished Engravings and Rock Weathering Near Broken Hill, Western New South Wales,” Australian Archaeology 18 (1984): 55–62, M. Aronson and D. W. Kingery, 582–3.Google Scholar