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Mineralogical Studies On Bone Apatite and Their Implications for Radiocarbon Dating

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  18 July 2016

Afifa A Hassan
Affiliation:
Department of Geology, Washington State University, Pullman, Washington 99164
John D Termine
Affiliation:
Laboratory of Biological Structure, NIDR, National Institute of Health, Bethesda, Maryland 20014
C Vance Haynes Jr.
Affiliation:
Department of Anthropology, The University of Arizona, Tucson, Arizona 85721
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Abstract

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Infrared (IR) spectrophotometry and X-ray diffraction (XRD) were conducted on modern and fossil bone material from archaeological sites in the U S to determine post-mortem changes in bone apatite and to evaluate the effect of these changes on radiocarbon dating. IR absorption bands, XRD peak-broadening parameters, and XRD unit cell measurements indicated that during fossilization, bone apatite, a mineral similar to dahllite, was partially or completely recrystallized to francolite. Post-mortem changes involved then removal of some of the endogenous crystal carbonate both at surfaces and at internal OH-sites and introduction of exogenous carbonate into internal crystal PO4 sites. Increased fluorine content accompanied carbonate substitution.

Both the carbon isotopic composition and the amount of exogenous carbonate introduced into the apatite structure will affect the radiocarbon dating of bone apatite. Special sample pre-treatment may remove most of the substituted carbonate in some cases. Simulated experiments are suggested for a better understanding of the nature and mechanism of carbonate substitution in bone apatite for the removal of the exogenously substituted carbon and the improvement of radiocarbon dates.

Type
Research Article
Copyright
Copyright © The American Journal of Science 

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