Eur. Phys. J. Plus (2020) 135: 487
https://doi.org/10.1140/epjp/s13360-020-00486-6

Regular Article

Synchrotron micro-XRD study, the way toward a deeper characterizing the early prehistoric Iranian glass cylinders from Late Bronze Age (1280 BC)

¹ Department of Conservation of Cultural Properties, Art University of Isfahan, Hakim-Nezami, 1744, Isfahan, Iran
² IdEx Fellowship at IRAMAT-CRP2A, Institut de recherche sur les Archéomatériaux, University Bordeaux, 33607, Pessac Cedex, France
³ Department of Physics, University of Isfahan, Hezar-Jarib St., 81746-73441, Isfahan, Iran
⁴ ALBA Synchrotron Light Source - CELLS, Carrer de la Llum 2-26, Cerdanyola del Vallès, 08290, Barcelona, Spain
⁵ Institute of Conservation and Restoration, University of Applied Arts Vienna, Salzgries 14, 1, 1010, Vienna, Austria
⁶ Departments for Conservation of Cultural Relics, 30th Tir St., 116945-4364, Tehran, Iran

^a emami@chemie.uni-siegen.de, m.emami@aui.ac.ir

Received: 29 June 2019
Accepted: 23 May 2020
Published online: 8 June 2020

Abstract

In this article, the chemical and mineralogical composition of a unique glass cylinder obtained from the temple of Chogha-Zanbil and classified as the earliest glass discovered in Iran (2nd millennium BC) has been studied. This was achieved through the use of Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, environmental scanning electron microscope and synchrotron X-ray micro-diffraction to characterize the presence of microstructures and the distribution of elements within their matrices. In order to accurately determine the characteristic crystalline phase constituents, micro-X-ray diffraction experiments were carried out at the CELLS-ALBA Synchrotron. Results reveal that the glass samples are comprised of silica glass and contain calcite, quartz and gehlenite as the major phases. The presence of argentojarosite as the Ag-bearing mineral within the amorphous part of glasses highlights the first use of Ag (Late Bronze Age) in Iran. The novelty of the results includes the identification of specific minerals (i.e., silver-containing minerals) used in the production of glass cylinders to obtain better luster and produce iridescence effects.