36738
Editor
Ambrose, W.R.; Mummery, J.M.J.
Title Of Article Chaper
Preliminary determinations of the age and composition of mineral salts on rock art surfaces in the Kakadu National Park
Title Of Journal Book
Archaeometry: further Australasian studies
Pages
36-42
Collation
2 tables, 15 refs.
Publisher
Australian National University Printing Press
Publisher City
Canberra
ISBN
0-7315-0040-7
Language Of Text
English
Language Of Summary
English
Literature Type
Monograph
Literature Level
Analytic
Abstract
Salts formed as efflorescences and subflorescences on/behind rock faces were analyzed. Minerals identified include gypsum (CaSO<sub>4</sub> . H<sub>2</sub>O), polyhalite (K<sub>2</sub>Ca<sub>2</sub>Mg(SO<sub>4</sub>)<sub>4</sub> . 2H<sub>2</sub>O) are major while darapskite (Na,K)<sub>3</sub>(NO<sub>3</sub>)(SO<sub>4</sub>) . H<sub>2</sub>O is a minor constituent of the efflorescences. Niter (KNO<sub>3</sub>), anhydrite (CaSO<sub>4</sub>), mohrite (NH<sub>4</sub>)* l2*sFe(SO<sub>4</sub>)<sub>2</sub> . 6H* l2* sO, hydroxylapatite Ca<sub>5</sub>(PO<sub>4</sub>)<sub>3</sub>(OH), and collophane Ca* l3*s(PO<sub>4</sub>)<sub>2</sub> . 2H<sub>2</sub>O were identified in a previous study (Hughes, P.J. and Watchman, A.L., The deterioration conservation and management of rock art sites in Kakadu National Park. In D.A. Gillespie (ed.) * 2The Rock Art Sites of Kakadu National Park -- Some Preliminary Research Findings for their Conservation and Management*1, pp. 37-86, Australian National Parks and Wildlife Service, Canberra, <i>Special Publication</i> No. 10). The major black soot-like granules contain whewellite CaC<sub>2</sub>O<sub>4</sub> . H<sub>2</sub>O. Radiocarbon dating of carbon containing minerals indicates changes in the atmospheric environment over the last few thousand years which has affected the composition of the salts. -- AATA
Keywords
Analysis Salts;Rock Art;Kakadu National Park AATA
pub_id
36738