Study of ceramic pastes of west central of Argentina (Mendoza, Argentina): optical microscopy and qemscan

Abstract

In this work, results of two analytical techniques used for the study of ceramic pastes are integrated: thin section petrography and Quantitative Evaluation of Minerals by Scaning Electron Microscopy (QEMSCAN), which is presented as an innovation for the study of pastes. The aim was to explore the potential of complementarity between both techniques. QEMSCAN analysis was applied to samples of archaeological ceramic material from northwestern Mendoza, Argentina, which were previously studied in an optical polarization microscope. The information obtained by QEMSCAN analysis was consistent with the results of the petrographic analysis, and made it possible to deepen the results of the petrographic studies. Petrographic analysis was necessary to interpret the results obtained by the application of automated QEMSCAN analysis. While the QEMSCAN analysis detected minerals of very fine sizes that make up the clay, whose identification is difficult in the petrographic microscope. The application of both analyses made possible the characterization and differentiation of ceramic pastes of different origin and to link their composition with local and extra-regional geology. We consider that the QEMSCAN and petrographic analysis provide complementary information, and its combined application is important to study the origin of ceramic materials and the manufacture of archaeological ceramics.