ICP-MS

In the United Arab Emirates (UAE), overall diabetes prevalence in adult population is around 20%. Along with, or instead of oral hypoglycemic drugs and insulin, some patients use bitter gourd (Momrodica charantia) because of its hypoglycemic properties. The aim of this study was to assess the essential (Ca, Mg, V, Cr, Mn, Co, Cu, Zn, and Mo) and toxic (As, Cd, Hg, and Pb) trace elements of bitter gourd using inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry (ICP-MS). Mean concentrations of each essential element were compared with literature data. Toxic As and Cd could not be detected, while Hg and Pb concentrations in our samples were much lower compared to values reported previously from contaminated areas. Results obtained in our study after ICP-MS/MW analysis, indicate that bitter gourd can be a good source of essential elements.

In this paper we describe the hyphenation of high temperature liquid chromatography with ICP-MS and ESI-MS for the characterization of halogen containing drug metabolites. The use of temperature gradients up to 200 • C enabled the separation of metabolites with low organic modifier content. This specific property allowed the use of detection methods that suffer from (significant) changes in analyte response factors as a function of the organic modifier content such as ICP-MS. Metabolites of two kinase inhibitors (SB-203580-Iodo and MAPK inhibitor VIII) produced by bacterial cytochrome P450 BM3 mutants and human liver microsomes were identified based on high resolution MS n data. Quantification was done using their normalized and elemental specific response in the ICP-MS. The importance of these kinds of quantification strategies is stressed by the observation that the difference of the position of one oxygen atom in a structure can greatly affect its response in ESI-MS and UV detection.

h i g h l i g h t s Sample preparation strategies used for crude oil in last ten years are discussed. Methods related to wet digestion with concentrated acids or combustion are covered. Trends in sample preparation are discussed, as well as speciation analysis. Methods focusing on further metals and non-metals determination are discussed. Official methods are covered and certified reference materials are summarized.

The rare earth elements (REE), from lanthanum to lutetium, present similar physical and chemical properties as a result of their particular electronic configurations. In spite of their similar behaviour these elements can be fractionated by a number of geological processes, depending on small differences in their ionic size in relation to the large number of coordination sites that exist in minerals. Interest in the geochemical behaviour of REE has increased steadily in the last few decades, since their occurrence and degree of fractionation can be a valuable tool in the interpretation of geological processes. At the same time, recent Vol. 32 -N°2 p . 1 6 7 -1 8 0 Tests are described showing the results obtained for the determination of REE and the trace elements Rb, Y, Zr, Nb, Cs, Ba, Hf, Ta, Pb, Th and U with ICP-MS methodology for nine basaltic reference materials, and thirteen basalts and amphibolites from the mafic-ultramafic Niquelândia Complex, central Brazil. Sample decomposition for the reference materials was performed by microwave oven digestion (HF and HNO 3 , 100 mg of sample), and that for the Niquelândia samples also by Parr bomb treatment (5 days at 200 °C, 40 mg of sample). Results for the reference materials were similar to published values, thus showing that the microwave technique can be used with confidence for basaltic rocks. No fluoride precipitates were observed in the microwave-digested solutions. Total recovery of elements, including Zr and Hf, was obtained for the Niquelândia samples, with the exception of an amphibolite. For this latter sample, the Parr method achieved a total digestion, but not so the microwave decomposition; losses, however, were observed only for Zr and Hf, indicating difficulty in dissolving Zr-bearing minerals by microwave acid attack.

The potentially toxic metals content was determined in selected plants, used in Traditional Chinese Medicine (Angelica sinensis, Bacopa monnieri, Bupleurum sinensis, Curcuma longa, Cola accuminata, Emblica officinalis, Garcinia cambogia, Mucuna pruriens, Ocimum sanctum, Panax ginseng, Pueraria lobata, Salvia miltiorrhiza, Schisandra sinensis, Scutellaria baicalensis, Siraitia grosvenorii, Terminalia arjuna and Terminalia chebula), and some European herbs (Echinacea purpurea, Hypericum perforatum, Vitis vinifera). Samples were mineralized in a closed microwave system using HNO 3 and the concentrations of Cd, Pb, Al, As, Ba, Ni and Sb were determined by ICP-MS method. Some relevant aspects of potential toxicity of metallic elements and their compounds were also discussed. Results of metal content analysis in dietary supplements available on Polish market, containing studied plants, are presented as well. The results were analyzed by principal component analysis (PCA) and cluster analysis.

In this paper, a comparison between two different analytical methods is described for arsenic determination. Water samples were directly determined for arsenic using inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectrometry (ICP-OES) and inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS). Data from the study demonstrate differences in the accuracy of the analytical results depending on the As level concentration. Uncertainty plays an important role in this study.

Blank values of 30 elements in 19 different filter types from Gelman, Millipore, Nuclepore and Whatman have been compared. The filter media were extracted with dilute nitric acid and the element contents determined by ICP-MS. Large differences in blank values were observed between different filter materials. Glass fiber filters showed high blank values for a number of elements, whereas PTFE filters were generally the cleanest. However, most filter types showed high blank values of one or more elements of environmental interest.

Lead concentrations of 59 different types of vinegars (15-307mugl(-1) in balsamic vinegars and 36-50mugl(-1) in wine vinegars) were determined using both inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) and graphite furnace atomic absorption spectrometry (GFAAS). Although the precision of direct analyses, following simple aqueous dilutions, with either instrumental method was poor; that precision, following nitric acid and/or hydrogen peroxide digestions, markedly improved with either instrument and the values obtained with the two instruments were in good agreement. The efficacy of different digestions, including (1) nitric acid using a heating block, with or without addition of hydrogen peroxide and (2) mixtures of nitric acid and hydrogen peroxide using ultraviolet (UV) photolysis, were then assessed. The latter procedure was found to be much faster and more efficient, but it was limited by the relatively high levels of contaminant lead in hydrogen peroxide. Consequently, it...

Thirty-three samples of construction and demolition waste collected at 11 recycling facilities in Denmark were characterised in terms of total content and leaching of inorganic elements and presence of the persistent organic pollutants PCBs and PAHs. Samples included (i) "clean" (i.e. unmixed) concrete waste, (ii) mixed masonry and concrete, (iii) asphalt and (iv) freshly cast concrete cores; both old and newly generated construction and demolition waste was included. PCBs and PAHs were detected in all samples, generally in non-critical concentrations. Overall, PAHs were comparable to background levels in urban environments. "Old" and "new" concrete samples indicated different PCB congener profiles and the presence of PCB even in new concrete suggested that background levels in raw materials may be an issue. Significant variability in total content of trace elements, even more pronounced for leaching, was observed indicating that the number of analysed ...

The oil and meal from Monechma ciliatum (black mahlab) and Prunus mahaleb (white mahlab) seeds were characterized for their physicochemical properties. The oil content was found to be 30.95 and 13.15% in white and black mahlab seeds, respectively. The refractive indices of white mahlab oil (WMO) and black mahlab oil (BMO) were 1.475 and 1.470, and specific gravities were 0.8511 and 0.8167 g/cm 3 , respectively. Saponification values were 184.23 and 180.3 mg KOH/g, peroxide values were 2.54 and 4.43 meq/kg, and unsaponifiable matter was 0.92 and 0.66%, respectively. The major fatty acids were palmitic 4.5%, stearic 16.0%, oleic 47.3%, and linoleic 31.4% in BMO, while in WMO they were palmitic 5.7%, oleic 45.0%, and linoleic acid 47.0%. A moderate amount of tocopherols were found at 45.2 and 28.5 mg/100 g in BMO and WMO, respectively. Protein content was found to be 21% in black and 28% in white mahlab seeds. The total amount of amino acids in black and white mahlab seeds was found to be 783.3 and 1,223.2 mg/g N, respectively. The concentration (on ppm dry-weight basis) of major elements (Ca, K, and Mg) and of minor elements (Al, Pb Ni, Mn, Cu, Cr, Co, and Fe) was also determined in the meals.

Increasing numbers of clinical laboratories are transitioning away from flame and electrothermal AAS methods to those based on ICP-MS. Still, for many laboratories, the choice of instrumentation is based upon (a) the element(s) to be determined, (b) the matrix/matrices to be analyzed, and (c) the expected concentration(s) of the analytes in the matrix. Most clinical laboratories specialize in measuring Se, Zn, Cu, and Al in serum, and/or Pb, Cd, Hg, As, and Cr in blood and/or urine, while other trace elements (e.g., Pt, Au etc.) are measured for therapeutic purposes. Quantitative measurement of elemental species is becoming more widely accepted for nutritional and/or toxicological screening purposes, and ICP-MS interfaced with separation techniques, such as liquid chromatography or capillary electrophoresis, offers the advantage of on-line species determination coupled with very low detection limits. Polyatomic interferences for some key elements such as Se, As, and Cr require instrumentation equipped with dynamic reaction cell or collision cell technologies, or might even necessitate the use of sector field ICP-MS, to assure accurate results. Nonetheless, whatever analytical method is selected for the task, careful consideration must be given both to specimen collection procedures and to the control of pre-analytical variables. Finally, all methods benefit from access to reliable certified reference materials (CRMs). While a variety of reference materials (RMs) are available for trace element measurements in clinical matrices, not all can be classified as CRMs. The major metrological organizations (e.g., NIST, IRMM, NIES) provide a limited number of clinical CRMs, however, secondary reference materials are readily available from commercial organizations and organizers of external quality assessment schemes.

Scholarship on premodern ruling elites tends to minimize the complexity of ancient politics and to focus on the decisions of individual kings and their charismatic swaying of entire populations. This dissertation departs from this tendency by investigating the exercise of power by the governments of premodern complex societies, or how ancient politicians organized their institutions. I argue the politics of ancient civilizations may best be studied by focussing on their regime: the political community which coalesced when rulers assembled their allies within the seat of government. This approach emphasizes practices of communication between a ruling body and its political network, as reflected by the exchange of information and goods.
Among premodern complex societies ruled by divine kingship, the regime is best described as a royal court, whose architectural institution corresponds to a regal palace. In order to address this anthropological political model, I examine the multi-dimensional archaeological record of the regal palace of La Corona, a small polity of northwest Guatemala that emerged during the Classic Period of Maya civilization (AD 250-950). I rely on an assemblage of complementary datasets – architecture, macro-artifacts, hieroglyphic monuments, micro-artifacts, geochemical elements, and macro-botanical remains – to study how the La Corona royal court exercised political power.
I study the last three construction phases of the north section of the La Corona regal palace and their two-century-long occupation to address a set of pragmatic questions. By examining residences, political stages, passageways, administrative space,
ancillary buildings, and middens, I seek to understand how Classic Maya politicians relied on economic and ritualized exchanges to effectively manage their regime. In addition, thanks to the rich historical record of La Corona and to a fine-tuned architectural sequence, I explore how the changing historical and geopolitical contexts of this polity transformed its government.
Through this rich diachronic empirical case-study, I build upon and contribute to an anthropological archaeology of politics, to ancient political economy, and to Classic Maya historical archaeology. In addition, I wish to highlight why the study of ancient politics may be relevant for us today, and perhaps, our near future.

Teeth are in close contact with foodstuffs: phenomena such as caries and wear of the crowns are precious keys to gather information on diet and cooking techniques.Phytoliths are granules of hydrated amorphous silica, which are deposited in the oral cavity while chewing fruit and vegetables and incorporated into dental calculus during its formation. In diet investigation, different plants may therefore be related to specific phytolith shapes.Analysis of chemical trace elements, incorporated in dental calculus from ingested food and replacing small percentages of calcium in normal processes of resorption and redeposition, can further enrich the research on ancient diet.The aim of our work was to set up an analytical protocol, focalised on phytoliths and the inorganic elemental composition of dental calculus, on samples coming from medieval skeletons excavated in Caravate (Varese, Italy). The ICP-MS analytical technique proved to be particularly suitable for such studies.The results suggested a diet based both on the consumption of carbohydrates (Dicotyledons, Monocotyledons such as the Poaceae, also known as Gramineae, and Coniferae) and on proteins, mostly derived from fish. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.

(ICP) adalah metoda yang berdasarkan ion yang tereksitasi dan memancarkan sinar. Intensitas cahaya yangterpancar pada panjang gelombang tertentu dan mempunyai karakteristik unsurtertentu yang terukur berhubungan dengan konsentrasi dari tiap unsur dari sampel.
Prinsip utama dari ICP adalah medapatkan unsur-unsur yang memancarkankarakteristik cahaya pada panjang gelombang yang bisa di ukur.

In this review sample preparation strategies used for crude oil digestion in last ten years are discussed focusing on further metals and non-metals determination. One of the main challenges of proposed methods has been to overcome the difficulty to bring crude oil samples into solution, which should be compatible with analytical techniques used for element determination. On this aspect, this review summarizes the sample preparation methods for metals and non metals determination in crude oil including those based on wet digestion, combustion, emulsification, extraction, sample dilution with organic solvents, among others. Conventional methods related to wet digestion with concentrated acids or combustion are also covered, with special emphasis to closed systems. Trends in sample digestion, such as microwave-assisted digestion using diluted acids combined with high-efficiency decomposition P.A. Mello et al. / Analytica Chimica Acta 746 (2012) 15-36 ICP-OES ICP-MS Direct analysis

В монографии излагаются итоги изучения керамических коллекций средневековых памятников Карелии X–XV вв. Центральное место в исследовании занимают вопросы классификации и типологического анализа лепной и гончарной посуды городищ Северо-Западного Приладожья, охотничье-рыболовецких селищ бассейна Онежского моря, юго-западного Прибеломорья и курганных погребений Юго-Восточного Приладожья. Данные анализа керамического материала использованы для решения
вопросов хронологии и историко-культурной атрибуции памятников. Приведены характеристика и результаты сравнительного анализа керамических производств у народов Карелии в эпоху Средневековья.
В Приложении публикуются данные исследований по реконструкции гончарных технологий на основе
использования методов геохимического и минералогического анализов.

The study of the ionome (ionomics) is defined as quantitative and simultaneous measurement of the element composition of living organisms and changes in this composition in response to physiological stimuli, development stage and genetic modifications . The necessity to understand the regulation processes of elements in the organisms demands determination of many elements in organism, tissue and cell (Baxter 2009). Potential prospect for ionomics is environmental pollution where great variety of conditions and pollutants exist resulting in concentration and interelement changes in the plant ionome. Capabilities and problems of several multielement analytical techniques: instrumental neutron activation analysis, X-ray fluorescence, inductively coupled plasma atomic emission spectrometry, inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry and atomic absorption spectrometry which are adequate and most promising in ionomic and environmental studies of plants are reviewed. References are confined mainly to the last 10-15 years. Information about concentrations, role, binding forms and pollution sources of the elements and comparison between methods in respect to limit of detection, determined elements, interferences and economic considerations are tabulated. Some combinations of instrumental techniques supplementing each other are highly valued, namely ICP-MS and ICP-AES; INAA and AAS or ICP-AES.

Nanotechnology, which deals with features as small as a 1 billionth of a meter, began to enter into mainstream physical sciences and engineering some 20 years ago. Recent applications of nanoscience include the use of nanoscale materials in electronics, catalysis, and biomedical research. Among these applications, strong interest has been shown to biological processes such as blood coagulation control and multimodal bioimaging, which has brought about a new and exciting research field called nanobiotechnology. Biotechnology, which itself also dates back ∼30 years, involves the manipulation of macroscopic biological systems such as cells and mice in order to understand why and how molecular level mechanisms affect specific biological functions, e.g., the role of APP (amyloid precursor protein) in Alzheimer’s disease (AD). This review aims (1) to introduce key concepts and materials from nanotechnology to a non-physical sciences community; (2) to introduce several state-of-the-art examples of current nanotechnology that were either constructed for use in biological systems or that can, in time, be utilized for biomedical research; (3) to provide recent excerpts in nanotoxicology and multifunctional nanoparticle systems (MFNPSs); and (4) to propose areas in neuroscience that may benefit from research at the interface of neurobiologically important systems and nanostructured materials.

The long standing view of the 13,000 year old Clovis culture is one of highly mobile Paleoindian hunters who moved from kill to kill, specializing in hunting mammoth and other large mammals. Mounting evidence suggests a wide array of behavior was practiced amongst the Clovis period hunter-gatherers who were dispersed across the New World in a diverse host of environments. This project focuses on determining the source of the flint or chert used to make Clovis projectile points at one of the largest and complex Clovis sites in North America, the Gault Site, in order to better understand the mobility practices of Clovis hunter-gatherers. Clovis mobility was thought to cover long distances but the provenance of these projectile points suggests limited distance mobility of less than 30 kilometers punctuated by occasional long distance forays.
The visual aspects of chert are similar across a wide region of Texas. A geochemical technique called Laser Ablation - Inductively Coupled Plasma - Mass
Spectrometry (LA-ICP-MS) is used to determine accurate provenance. This technique is employed to determine the geochemistry of chert used in the manufacture of the Gault Site projectile points and compares them with geologic samples from several locations across the Edwards Plateau. This research analyzes artifacts from an important Clovis site to understand mobility practices by evaluating subjective postulates concerning mobility with objective data.
This project develops a highly effective and reliable methodology for determining both intra- and inter-source variation.
This dissertation suggests that the Clovis cultural complex was widespread across the New World but the behavior elicited by Clovis period hunter-gatherers was varied and not uniform. The Gault Site artifacts demonstrate that cultural diffusion may have allowed technological aspects of Clovis culture to spread rapidly across the New World, rather than long distance movement in search of game.

Исследование состава матриц печатей из коллекции Н.П. Лихачева (собрание СПБ ИИ РАН). Е.В. Чернобахтова, А.Ю. Лобода, Е.И. Носова, В.М. Ретивов, Д.И. Вебер, Е.Ю. Терещенко, Е.Б. Яцишина // 7-я Европейская конференция по рассеянию нейтронов: тезисы микросимпозиумов / 1-4 июля 2019 г. Санкт-Петербург / Сборник тезисов докладов. – 2019 г. – С.102.

Методом масс-спектрометрии с индуктивно-связанной плазмой был исследован состав девяти матриц печатей из коллекции СПбИИ РАН. Статистический анализ данных о составе мелких литых латунных (медно-цинковых) изделий из литературных источников показал наличие двух хронологически сменяющих друг друга групп латуней, что соотносится с литературными данными о технологии производства латуни в XII-XIX вв.

Anthropological archaeologists have been investigating ancient human interaction for decades as interaction studies highlight how humans have communicated for 200,000 years at a variety of spatial and temporal scales. With the development of provenance studies and improved geochemical sourcing techniques, researchers can better document the movement of raw materials and formed artefacts from sources to habitation and ceremonial sites to understand economic, ideological, and sociopolitical interaction. In the Pacific, numerous researchers have documented how Oceanic people were highly mobile and adept at intra– and inter–island interaction across the great ‘sea of islands’ (Hauʻofa 1993). Within Polynesia, tracing interaction has mostly been accomplished through geochemical analyses of stone materials, especially basalt adzes. These findings uncovered regional voyaging and interaction spheres between numerous islands and archipelagos.

Rapa Nui (Easter Island) has been the subject of various scientific investigations. Much of this work has been dedicated to moai (statues) and ahu (platforms) and how these megalithic features venerated the island’s chiefly ancestors and supported sociopolitical organisation, ideological communication, economic (re)distribution, and elite management over the island’s ancient political economy. Although moai and ahu have been studied for centuries, archaeological investigation of the island’s many basalt sources and artefacts, including their geological provenance and geochemistry, has been minimal. Consequently, this lack of comprehensive geochemistry for basalt sources and artefacts has restricted the potential of ancient interaction studies on Rapa Nui.

To fill this gap in the archaeological literature, the “Rapa Nui Geochemical Project (RNGP)” was established in 2013. The main goals of the RNGP include: 1) to identify, geologically, the various types of basalt used archaeologically and document the stages of production for artefacts and construction stones; 2) to elucidate spatial and temporal patterns of basalt acquisition, transfer, and use; 3) to delineate economic, ideological, and sociopolitical interaction, including pathways that accompanied and facilitated stone exchange between members of the ancient Rapanui culture; 4) to highlight the attributes of Rapa Nui’s chiefly controlled ancient political economy through documenting the spatial and temporal distributions of archaeological basalt industries; 5) to evaluate economic and sociopolitical interpretations put forward by the ‘ecocide’ or ‘collapse’ narrative (Bahn and Flenley 1992; Diamond 1995, 2005); and 6) to create public archaeology and educational opportunities for the local Rapa Nui community.

Over six years, the RNGP collaborated with more than 30 individuals from 20 institutions from around the globe to conduct field archaeology (four campaigns from 2014–2018), geoarchaeological and material culture documentation (SLR camera and drone photos/videos and artefactual 3D scanning), geochemical analyses (inductively coupled plasma–mass spectrometry and portable x–ray fluorescence), radiometric dating (14C), artistic site reconstructions, and educational outreach.

RNGP results from six study areas reveal a diversity of operational sequences for basalt tool making which parallels the numerous economic, ideological and sociopolitical pathways used by the ancient Rapanui to acquire basalt for artefact and construction stone creation. The RNGP geochemically identified eight unique basalts during analysis and highlighted how quarries and sources at Ava oʻKiri and Pu Tokitoki provided most of the material used to manufacture the sample of basalt artefacts (adzes, picks, knives, and axes) analysed in this study.

Four pathways for the transfer of basalt were uncovered in this investigation, they included, opportunistic, communal, and confederation and elite (re)distribution. Thus, the complexity of interaction outlined in this Ph.D. thesis refutes economic and sociopolitical propositions put forward by the ‘collapse narrative’ for Rapa Nui’s pre–contact period. Instead, it establishes the common interaction and collaboration within and between mata (clans) and the two island confederations that existed during the island’s past, especially regarding the access to and use of culturally valuable stone such as basalt.

A collection of window-panes, vessels and alleged waste from Thamusida has been investigated by OM, SEM–EDS, ICP–MS, ICP–OES and XAS at the Fe–K and Mn–K edges. Glass samples have been characterized as natron-based soda–lime–silica glasses, with low magnesium and low potassium. The results have been compared with 43 reference groups available for ‘naturally coloured’ and colourless glasses of both Roman and later ages. Two main types were distinguished: RBGY 1 (Roman Blue–Green and Yellow 1) and RBGY 2 (Roman Blue–Green and Yellow 2). Given their compositional similarity to the Levantine I or, to a lesser extent, HIMT glasses, the Syrian–Palestinian coast for RBGY 2 and Egypt for the RBGY 1 have been suggested for their provenance. Most Thamusida samples have been assigned to the RBGY 2 type. A small group of Thamusida colourless vessels was included into the RC (Roman-Colourless) compositional field; the latter still being defined. The alleged waste pieces may define a local production that should have been of secondary type. The investigations performed on local raw materials seem to discount the possibility of a primary glass-making site. XAS measurements determined that Fe2+ contents ranging between 30 and 52% are able to assure an aqua blue colour; below 30%, the glasses turn light green or light yellow.

Hoy en día, el campo de la investigación arqueológica recibe cada vez más la inestimable ayuda de la tecnología, pudiendo realizar tareas que hace años le serían impensables, como observar algo con miles de aumentos, saber de qué se alimentaban en el pasado o relacionar genéticamente poblaciones de diferente espacio o tiempo. Sin embargo, es necesario saber cómo hacer uso adecuadamente de esta tecnología, para interpretar el pasado de la manera más acertada posible. En este trabajo se desarrolla una síntesis de las principales técnicas en investigación arqueológica, centrando la atención en el estudio de los restos óseos e ilustrando cada técnica con ejemplos que puedan ayudar a su comprensión.
Palabras clave: huesos humanos, colágeno, ADN, PCR, isótopos, paleodietas, ICP-MS, FRX, SEM

Nowadays, the field of archaeological research receives increasingly the priceless help of the technology, being able to solve tasks in a manner which would seem unthinkable years ago, as watching something thousands of times zoomed in, knowing what did the people from the past eat or relate genetically populations coming from different ages or locations. However, knowledge of the correct use of this technology is needed, in order to read the past in the most accurate way. On this paper, a synthesis of the main techniques for archaeological research is developed, focusing the attention on the study of skeletal remains and giving examples for the application of each technique to provide its understanding.
Keywords: human bones, collagen, DNA, PCR, isotopes, paleodiets, ICP-MS, XRF, SEM

The use of geochemical analysis for characterization studies of archaeological material has been increasing for decades. In recent years, advancements in X-ray fluorescence (XRF) instrumentation have led to hand-held portable XRF (pXRF) instruments capable
of on-site, rapid, non-destructive analysis. The addition of pXRF to the archaeologist’s
toolkit has the potential to revolutionize geochemical characterization studies as research
design can be informed by field analysis, once off-limits museum collections may now be analyzable, and data can be gathered on in-situ objects without disturbing their context. This new instrumentation has shown promise in  characterization studies on a variety of
archaeological materials, including ceramics. Particularly, it has been shown to generate data useful in distinguishing the geochemical provenance of artifacts. While most existing provenance studies that employ pXRF involve obsidian, it is  possible that pXRF is a suitable analytical tool for ceramics as well, since instrumental neutron activation analysis (INAA) and laboratory XRF have both been used in provenance studies of
obsidian and ceramics. This thesis reports research that utilized a Bruker hand held pXRF analyzer to study ceramics and plaster floors from Classic Period (ca. AD 250-1000) archaeological sites in southeast Mesoamerica. The data gathered from this  analysis are used to examine the ability of pXRF to address archaeological questions of archaeological provenance on ceramic material and human activity patterns on archaeological plaster. The data gathered on ceramic material is analyzed to determine if “valley profiles” (or “chemical fingerprints”) can be created for samples excavated in the same valley and to investigate inter-valley trade. Data from the plaster samples is examined to determine if pXRF can detect human activity  patterns on plaster floors and, if so, if the activity is identifiable. The results suggest that, while pXRF results can be used to create “valley profiles” for provenance research, it is difficult to ascertain if it can be used to identify items of trade. This investigation also shows that, while pXRF data can identify human activity on plaster, it is difficult to determine what those activities were. This leads to the conclusion that pXRF has potential for both provenance and prospection studies on earthen materials. However, methodological development is necessary to fine tune research design. This thesis contributes to a greater understanding
of the potentials and limitations of pXRF instrumentation in characterization studies of archaeological materials as well as understanding cultural-historical details in Classics southeast Mesoamerica.

The efficiency of eight different procedures used for the extraction of natural dyes was evaluated using contemporary wool samples dyed with cochineal, madder, woad, weld, brazilwood and logwood. Comparison was made based on the LC-DAD peak areas of the natural dye’s main components which had been extracted from the wool samples. Among the tested methods, an extraction procedure with Na2EDTA in water/DMF (1:1, v/v) proved to be the most suitable for the extraction of the studied dyes, which presented a wide range of chemical structures. The identification of the natural dyes used in the making of an eighteenth century Arraiolos carpet was possible using the Na2EDTA/DMF extraction of the wool embroidery samples and an LC-DAD-MS methodology. The effectiveness of the Na2EDTA/DMF extraction method was particularly observed in the extraction of weld dye components. Nine flavone derivatives previously identified in weld extracts could be identified in a single historical sample, confirming the use of this natural dye in the making of Arraiolos carpets. Indigo and brazilwood were also identified in the samples, and despite the fact that these natural dyes were referred in the historical recipes of Arraiolos dyeing, it is the first time that the use of brazilwood is confirmed. Mordant analysis by ICP-MS identified the widespread use of alum in the dyeing process, but in some samples with darker hues, high amounts of iron were found instead.

In the present work, hair mineral analysis of 117 individuals was carried out. The subjects were asked to fill a questionnaire concerning their dietary habits. The content of minerals in hair was determined by ICP-OES (macroelements) and ICP-MS technique (micro-, toxic and other trace elements). The results were elaborated statistically by Statistica ver. 8.0. It was found that consuming highly processed food causes increased levels of e.g. Na and P in hair, intake of slimming preparation resulted in increased content of Al, Cr, Ti, taking in laxative agents caused lower level of Pb (this element was probably eliminated by other excretory routes). Individuals which declared the use of analgesic agents had more Si in their hair. Drinking coffee was related with higher level of Al, Ni, S and Ti and lower Pb in hair. Drinking tea caused reduction in the level of Hg. These results show that hair mineral content reflects exposure of elements from the diet.

Pacific and Rapa Nui (Easter Island) volcanologists, geologists, and geochemists have set the stage for archaeological lithic sourcing studies by providing practical data regarding the island's geodynamic activity, geomorphological formation and dating, and the macroscopic, microscopic, and elemental proprieties of Easter Island stone. Drawing upon this information, and the research collaboration between two active archaeological projects on Rapa Nui – the Easter Island Statue Project and the Rapa Nui Geochemical Project – we trace the prehistoric transfer of basalt resources from the Ava o'Kiri and Pu Tokitoki quarry complexes to the moai (statue) quarry at Rano Raraku between AD 1455–1645. Our conclusions better highlight socio-political and economic interaction during Rapa Nui prehistory, while delineating the relationship between adze and pick production and moai manufacture. In this article, we report: 1) a synthesis of a five-meter deep field excavation of moai rr-001-156 in Rano Raraku; 2) a 14C assessment which dates human presence around moai rr-001-156; 3) 31 basalt quarry and source site descriptions; and 4) archaeometric data using laser ablation-inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry (LA-ICP-MS) and principal component analyses of 21 archaeological and 117 geological samples.

Rapa Nui is famous for its moai (statues) and ahu (platforms), yet research into the island's many basalt quarries, sources and workshops is limited. These geological and archaeological sites provided the raw materials for tools such as toki (adzes and picks), which facilitated the manufacture of Easter Island's iconic stonework. Other basaltic tools such as hoe (knives), ohio (axes) and mangai m¯ a'ea (stone fishhooks) served for subsistence practices. However, little is known about the sources of these artefacts, the sequence of their manufacture and their geochemical compositions. In this paper, we provide archaeological site descriptions and geochemistry of source material from the Rua Tokitoki quarry and a fine-grain basalt locality on Poike to contribute towards an understanding of prehistoric mining, social interaction and elite oversight on this isolated East Polynesian outpost. 

Rapa Nui est reconnue pour ses moai (statues) et ses ahu (plate-formes), mais la recherche sur lescarrì eres de basalte, les sources et les ateliers de lˆıle est limitée. Ces sites géologiques et archéologiques ont fourni lesmatì erespremì eres utilisées dans la confection d'outils comme le toki (herminettes et pioches), qui ont rendu possible la fabrication de la maçonnerie emblématique de l'Ile de Pâques. D'autres outils basaltiques, comme les hoe (couteaux), ohio (haches) et mangai m¯ a'ea (hameçons de pierre), servaient aussì a la survie. Toutefois, on sait peu de choses sur la source de ces artéfacts, la séquence de leur fabrication et leur composition géochimique. Ce papier présente des descriptions de sites archéologiques ainsi que la géochimie desmatì erespremì eres trouvées dans lacarrì ere de Rua Tokitoki et dans une région formée de basaltè a grain fin sur le Poike, pour contribuerà la compréhension de l'extractionminì ere préhistorique, des interactions sociales età la supervision d'´ elite de cet avant-poste isolé de la Polynésie de l'est.

El centro de la República Mexicana contiene varios de los yacimientos de obsidiana más importantes en la industria lítica prehispánica. De acuerdo con algunas investigaciones arqueológicas, la expansión económica y política de muchas de las grandes culturas mesoamericanas se relaciona con el control de ciertos yacimientos de obsidiana y de sus rutas comerciales. La hipótesis por comprobar de este artículo se refiere a que la caracterización geoquímica de yacimientos naturales de obsidiana ofrece un patrón determinado que permite correlacionarla con artefactos arqueológicos. Para ello, se aplicaron el método de fluorescencia de rayos X y el de ICP-MS en el análisis de muestras de varios yacimientos importantes del México central (la sierra de Pachuca, Tulancingo, Otumba, Zacualtipán, El Paredón-Tres Cabezas y Zinapécuaro). De esta manera se obtendrá la firma geoquímica de cada uno de los yacimientos de modo que, al hacer el análisis de artefactos arqueológicos, se puedan comparar los patrones geoquímicos de los objetos con las fuentes, a fin de establecer una correlación. Asimismo, ésta se obtiene mediante algoritmos estadísticos computarizados, como el DBSCAN, con lo cual se hace una clasificación precisa de cada una de las muestras de forma automatizada. Esta investigación deja ver parte del gran potencial que los métodos geoquímicos, combinados con potentes técnicas estadísticas, tienen para la identificación de yacimientos de obsidiana; también evidencia que puede ser auxiliar en los estudios de procedencia de artefactos arqueológicos, al ayudar a determinar rutas comerciales prehispánicas.

The developed strategy permits determination
in three steps of sixty-seven elements using inductively
coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS). Sodium,
Mg, Si, S, Cl, K, and Ca are determined in a first step;
B, Al, P, Cr, Fe, Mn, Ni, Cu, Zn, As, Se, Ag, Cd, Sb, Ba,
Hg, and Pb are determined in a second step; and Li, Be,
Ti, V, Co, Ga, Ge, Br, Rb, Sr, Y, Zr, Nb, Mo, Sn, Te, I, Cs,
La, Ce, Pr, Nd, Sm, Eu, Gd, Tb, Dy, Ho, Er, Tm, Yb, Lu,
Hf, Ta, W, Pt, Au, Tl, Bi, Th, and U are analyzed in a third
step. The figures of merit obtained are adequate to carry
out water quality monitoring and other hydrochemical
studies, such those based in the application of hydrochemical
fingerprinting to water management.