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Science 28 July 1978:
Vol. 201. no. 4353, pp. 339 - 341
DOI: 10.1126/science.201.4353.339
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Articles

Obsidian Hydration Profiles Measured by Sputter-Induced Optical Emission

I. S. T. TSONG 1, C. A. HOUSER 1, N. A. YUSEF 1, R. F. MESSIER 1, W. B. WHITE 1, and J. W. MICHELS 2

1 Materials Research Laboratory, Pennsylvania State University, University Park 16802
2 Department of Anthropology, Pennsylvania State University

The variation of concentrations of hydrogen, sodium, potassium, lithium, calcium, magnesium, silicon, and aluminum as a function of depth in the hydration layer of obsidian artifacts has been determined by sputter-induced optical emission. The surface hydration is accompanied by dealkalization, and there is a buildup of alkaline earths, calcium and magnesium in the outermost layers. These results have clarified the phenomena underlying the obsidian hydration dating technique.

Submitted on February 9, 1978
Revised on April 25, 1978


THIS ARTICLE HAS BEEN CITED BY OTHER ARTICLES:
Hydration Aging of Nuclear Waste Glass.
J. K. Bates, J. K. BATES, L. J. JARDINE, and M. J. STEINDLER (1982)
Science 218, 51-54
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Science. ISSN 0036-8075 (print), 1095-9203 (online)