Infrared (IR) spectroscopy has emerged as one of the most powerful analytical tools
available to archaeologists. It has been used to document site formation processes and …

It was recently found that silcrete raw material was heat-treated during the South African
Middle Stone Age (MSA) for altering its flaking properties. This finding led to hypotheses …

The early occurrence of intentional heat treatment of silica rocks has recently become a key
element in the discussion about the cultural modernity of prehistoric populations. Lithic …

The study aims to differentiate the silica forms stratified in the siliceous geodes using
infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) and X-ray diffraction (XRD). The water content (total water, H 2 …

Silica enrichments resulting in up to~ 90 wt% SiO2 have been observed by the Curiosity
rover's instruments in Gale crater, Mars, within the Murray and Stimson formations. Samples …

Chalcedony is a porous spatial arrangement of hydroxylated nanometre sized α-quartz
(SiO2) crystallites. Due to micro-structural transformations upon heat treatment, the optical …

An apparatus and methodology for variable temperature infrared spectroscopy
measurements of neat samples contained in a button sample holder are described. Sample …

Polished edges of archaeological stone tools are commonly investigated to obtain
information on the tools' uses in prehistory. Yet to this day, it remains unclear what exactly …

The quantitative determination of moganite in flint and chert plays an important role in the
characterisation of these silica rocks and in the study of their genesis and evolution. Both …

Crystalline quality and the silanoles defects (Si-OH) present within the structure of natural
SiO 2 play an important role in its reactivity. In this work, the relationship between the loss of …