LA-ICP-MS analysis of quartzite from the Upper Gunnison Basin,Colorado |
| |
| Authors: | Bonnie L. Pitblado Molly Boeka Cannon Hector Neff Carol M. Dehler Stephen T. Nelson |
| |
| Affiliation: | 1. Anthropology Department, University of Oklahoma, 455 W Lindsey, Dale Hall Tower 521, Norman, OK 73019, USA;2. Anthropology Program, Utah State University, 0730 Old Main Hill, Logan, UT 84322, USA;3. Institute for Integrated Research in Materials, Environments and Society, California State University, Long Beach, 1250 Bellflower Blvd., Long Beach, CA 90840-1003, USA;4. Geology Department, Utah State University, 4505 Old Main Hill, Logan, UT 84322, USA;5. Geology Department, Brigham Young University, S-389 ESC, Provo, UT 84642, USA |
| |
| Abstract: | We report the results of LA-ICP-MS analysis of 402 quartzite samples representing 48 collection loci in the Upper Gunnison Basin (UGB), Colorado and determine the extent to which the sources can be geochemically discriminated from one another using this non-destructive technique. The ability to differentiate among the sources would open the door to provenance studies of the quartzite chipped-stone tools and debitage that constitute 95% or more of most of the 3000-plus prehistoric site assemblages documented in the UGB. Our samples represent prehistorically quarried and non-quarried quartzite sources, including outcrop (primary) and gravel (secondary) deposits. The results reveal spatial and chronological trends in quartzite elemental composition that can be exploited for provenance determinations of quartzite artifacts from UGB sites, albeit using an assemblage-based sourcing strategy that differs from the familiar approach of “matching” obsidian artifacts to their statistically likeliest geological source. We offer a preliminary version of a sourcing protocol for UGB quartzite. |
| |
| Keywords: | Laser ablation ICP-MS Quartzite Gunnison Basin Colorado Artifact sourcing Provenance |
| 本文献已被 ScienceDirect 等数据库收录！ |
|
