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X-ray computed tomography (XCT) and chemical analysis (EDX and XRF) used in conjunction for cultural conservation: the case of the earliest scientifically described dinosaur Megalosaurus bucklandii
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Wilson, Paul, Smith, M. P., Hay, J., Warnett, Jason M., Attridge, Alex and Williams, M. A. (2018) X-ray computed tomography (XCT) and chemical analysis (EDX and XRF) used in conjunction for cultural conservation: the case of the earliest scientifically described dinosaur Megalosaurus bucklandii. Heritage Science, 6 (1). 58. doi:10.1186/s40494-018-0223-0 ISSN 2050-7445.
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WRAP-x-ray-computed-tomography-chemical-analysis-cultural-dinosaur-Wilson-2018.pdf - Published Version - Requires a PDF viewer. Available under License Creative Commons Attribution 4.0. Download (2121Kb) | Preview |
Official URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.1186/s40494-018-0223-0
Abstract
This paper demonstrates the combined use of X-ray computed tomography (XCT), energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX) and X-ray fluorescence (XRF) to evaluate the conservational history of the dentary (lower jaw) of Megalosaurus bucklandii Mantell, 1827, the first scientifically described dinosaur. Previous analysis using XCT revealed that the specimen had undergone at least two phases of repair using two different kinds of plaster, although their composition remained undetermined. Additional chemical analysis using EDX and XRF has allowed the determination of the composition of these unidentified plasters, revealing that they are of similar composition, composed dominantly of ‘plaster of Paris’ mixed with quartz sand and calcite, potentially from the matrix material of the Stonesfield Slate, with the trace presence of chlorine. One of the plasters unusually contains the pigment minium (naturally occurring lead tetroxide; Pb22+Pb4+O4) whilst the other seems to have an additional coating of barium hydroxide (Ba(OH)2), indicating that these likely represent two separate stages of repair. The potential of this combined approach for evaluating problematic museum objects for conservation is further discussed as is its usage in cultural heritage today.
Item Type: | Journal Article | |||||||||
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Subjects: | Q Science > QC Physics Q Science > QE Geology |
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Divisions: | Faculty of Science, Engineering and Medicine > Engineering > WMG (Formerly the Warwick Manufacturing Group) | |||||||||
Library of Congress Subject Headings (LCSH): | Tomography, X-ray spectroscopy, Megalosaurus | |||||||||
Journal or Publication Title: | Heritage Science | |||||||||
Publisher: | Springer | |||||||||
ISSN: | 2050-7445 | |||||||||
Official Date: | 3 October 2018 | |||||||||
Dates: |
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Volume: | 6 | |||||||||
Number: | 1 | |||||||||
Article Number: | 58 | |||||||||
DOI: | 10.1186/s40494-018-0223-0 | |||||||||
Status: | Peer Reviewed | |||||||||
Publication Status: | Published | |||||||||
Access rights to Published version: | Open Access (Creative Commons) | |||||||||
Date of first compliant deposit: | 18 October 2018 | |||||||||
Date of first compliant Open Access: | 18 October 2018 | |||||||||
RIOXX Funder/Project Grant: |
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