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Table 3 Results of the archaeological pigments and plaster physico-chemical analysis

From: Comprehensive study of 12th century wall painting fragments from the St. George Cathedral of the Yuryev Monastery in Veliky Novgorod (Russia) using complementary physico-chemical methods

Sample

Description

XRF analysis

FTIR spectroscopy

Raman spectroscopy

Optical microscopy

Elements found

Pigment suggestion

Infrared bands (cm− 1)

Mineral

Raman bands (cm− 1)

Mineral

Thickness, µm

 

Plaster

Ca, Si, Al, Mg, Fe, P, K, Cl, S, Mn, Ti

Lime, sand

1793, 1397, 871, 712;

3390b, 1077c, 1016b, 613b;

1156c

Calcite;

Clay minerals;

Quartz

  

M1

Yellow

Ca, Si, Al, Fe, Pb, S, K, Ti, P, Cr, Mna

Yellow ochre, lime, white lead or massicot

1795, 1410, 873, 712;

3695, 3619, 1105c, 1027, 1007, 913, 534;

695, 433;

3300b, 796, 749, 466

Calcite;

Kaolinite;

Quartz;

Goethite d

148, 281, 1087;

294, 388, 561;

146, 281

Calcite;

Goethite;

Massicot

25

M2

Red

Si, Ca, Fe, Al, Mg, K, P, S, Ti, Pb, Mn, Sr, Cl, Ba, As

Red ochre, lime

1795, 1413, 873, 712;

1032b;

1162, 796, 777, 694, 519;

445

Calcite;

Clay minerals;

Quartz;

Hematite

154, 293, 1086;

226, 293, 408, 513, 610, 652, 1309

Calcite;

Hematite

50

M3

Green

Si, Ca, Fe, Al, K, Mg, Pb, P, S, Ti, Mn, Sr, As

Green earth, lime

1795, 1412, 872, 712;

3350b, 1102c, 1010c;

3554, 3526, 967, 797, 679, 487, 449, 438

Calcite;

Clay minerals;

Celadonite

  

30–40

M4

Blue

Si, Ca, Al, Mg, K, S, Fe, P, Ti, Cl, Sr, Ba

Lazurite, lime

1795, 1413, 873, 712;

3696b, 3620, 1088c;

797, 779, 695, 519c;

1001, 654, 577, 534, 441

Calcite;

Clay minerals;

Quartz;

Lazurite

1091;

547, 1091

Calcite;

Lazurite

2 layers

total 40 μm

M5

Black

Ca, Si, Al, Mg, Fe, K, P, Ti, Mn, S, Pb, Sr

“Reft’ ” (carbon black), lime

1795, 1409, 872, 711;

3695, 3620, 1095c, 1029, 1007, 911, 536;

789, 751, 466

Calcite;

Kaolinite;

Goethite

163, 1086;

1335, 1620

Calcite;

“Reft’ ” (carbon black)

20–50

M6

Orange

Ca, Pb, S, Si, Al, As, Fe, P, K, Cl, Ti, Mn

Red lead, lime, clay minerals

1795, 1403, 872, 712;

3410b, 1079c, 1030, 781, 527;

1160

Calcite;

Clay minerals;

Sand

86, 122, 152, 222, 312, 391, 549

Red lead

40–60

  1. aElements with content less than 1 mass% are marked italic; bappears as a wide peak; cappears as a shoulder; dcolored components mark bold