CaltechAUTHORS
  A Caltech Library Service

Obsidian hydration profile measurements using a nuclear reaction technique

Lee, R. R. and Leich, D. A. and Tombrello, T. A. and Ericson, J. E. and Friedman, I. (1974) Obsidian hydration profile measurements using a nuclear reaction technique. Nature, 250 (5461). pp. 44-47. ISSN 0028-0836. doi:10.1038/250044a0. https://resolver.caltech.edu/CaltechAUTHORS:20150903-132323681

Full text is not posted in this repository. Consult Related URLs below.

Use this Persistent URL to link to this item: https://resolver.caltech.edu/CaltechAUTHORS:20150903-132323681

Abstract

Ambient water diffuses into the exposed surfaces of obsidian, forming a hydration layer which increases in thickness with time to a maximum depth of 20-40 μm (ref. 1), this layer being the basic foundation of obsidian dating. We have used the resonance at a ^(19)F energy of 16.45 MeV (0.83 MeV centre-of-mass energy) (ref. 4) in the nuclear reaction ^1H(^(19)F,ɑy)^(16)O to measure directly the hydration profiles of obsidian samples. This technique has already been used to measure the hydrogen concentration profiles in lunar samples and other solids to depths up to 0.4 μm with a resolution of 0.02 μm (refs 5 and 6). A second strong resonance at 17.64 MeV is encountered in extending these measurements to greater depths but its contribution can be unfolded from the data.


Item Type:Article
Related URLs:
URLURL TypeDescription
http://dx.doi.org/10.1038/250044a0DOIArticle
http://www.nature.com/nature/journal/v250/n5461/abs/250044a0.htmlPublisherArticle
Additional Information:© 1974 Nature Publishing Group. Received December 27, 1973; revised April 9, 1974. We thank Dr D. S. Burnett for suggesting the application of this nuclear reaction technique to obsidian hydration measurements, and R.H. Goldberg and W. Long for technical assistance. We also thank Dr J. O'Keefe, NASA, for the tektite samples and Dr C. W. Meighan for the hydration measurements through the Obsidian Hydration Laboratory, Department of Anthropology, University of California, Los Angeles. This work was supported in part by the National Science Foundation.
Funders:
Funding AgencyGrant Number
NSFUNSPECIFIED
Issue or Number:5461
DOI:10.1038/250044a0
Record Number:CaltechAUTHORS:20150903-132323681
Persistent URL:https://resolver.caltech.edu/CaltechAUTHORS:20150903-132323681
Official Citation:Obsidian hydration profile measurements using a nuclear reaction technique 44-47 R. R. LEE, D. A. LEICH, T. A. TOMBRELLO, J. E. ERICSON & I. FRIEDMAN doi:10.1038/250044a0
Usage Policy:No commercial reproduction, distribution, display or performance rights in this work are provided.
ID Code:60055
Collection:CaltechAUTHORS
Deposited By: Ruth Sustaita
Deposited On:03 Sep 2015 22:42
Last Modified:10 Nov 2021 22:29

Repository Staff Only: item control page