Obsidian hydration: A new paleothermometer (2006)

Research Article| July 01, 2006 Obsidian hydration: A new paleothermometer Lawrence M. Anovitz; Lawrence M. Anovitz 1Department of Earth and Planetary Sciences, University of Tennessee, Knoxville, Tennessee 37996, and Chemical Sciences Division, MS 6110, P.O. Box 2008, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Oak Ridge, Tennessee 37831-6110, USA Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar Lee R. Riciputi; Lee R. Riciputi 2Chemical Sciences Division, MS 6365, P.O. Box 2008, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Oak Ridge, Tennessee 37831-6365, USA Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar David R. Cole; David R. Cole 3Chemical Sciences Division, MS 6110, P.O. Box 2008, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Oak Ridge, Tennessee 37831-6110, USA Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar Mostafa Fayek; Mostafa Fayek 4Chemical Sciences Division, MS 6365, P.O. Box 2008, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Oak Ridge, Tennessee 37831-6365, USA Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar J. Michael Elam J. Michael Elam 5Department of Anthropology, University of Tennessee, Knoxville, Tennessee 37996, USA Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar Author and Article Information Lawrence M. Anovitz 1Department of Earth and Planetary Sciences, University of Tennessee, Knoxville, Tennessee 37996, and Chemical Sciences Division, MS 6110, P.O. Box 2008, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Oak Ridge, Tennessee 37831-6110, USA Lee R. Riciputi 2Chemical Sciences Division, MS 6365, P.O. Box 2008, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Oak Ridge, Tennessee 37831-6365, USA David R. Cole 3Chemical Sciences Division, MS 6110, P.O. Box 2008, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Oak Ridge, Tennessee 37831-6110, USA Mostafa Fayek 4Chemical Sciences Division, MS 6365, P.O. Box 2008, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Oak Ridge, Tennessee 37831-6365, USA J. Michael Elam 5Department of Anthropology, University of Tennessee, Knoxville, Tennessee 37996, USA Publisher: Geological Society of America Received: 14 Oct 2005 Revision Received: 25 Jan 2006 Accepted: 27 Jan 2006 First Online: 09 Mar 2017 Online Issn: 1943-2682 Print Issn: 0091-7613 The Geological Society of America, Inc. Geology (2006) 34 (7): 517–520. https://doi.org/10.1130/G22326.1 Article history Received: 14 Oct 2005 Revision Received: 25 Jan 2006 Accepted: 27 Jan 2006 First Online: 09 Mar 2017 Cite View This Citation Add to Citation Manager Share Icon Share Facebook Twitter LinkedIn MailTo Tools Icon Tools Get Permissions Search Site Citation Lawrence M. Anovitz, Lee R. Riciputi, David R. Cole, Mostafa Fayek, J. Michael Elam; Obsidian hydration: A new paleothermometer. Geology 2006;; 34 (7): 517–520. doi: https://doi.org/10.1130/G22326.1 Download citation file: Ris (Zotero) Refmanager EasyBib Bookends Mendeley Papers EndNote RefWorks BibTex toolbar search Search Dropdown Menu toolbar search search input Search input auto suggest filter your search All ContentBy SocietyGeology Search Advanced Search Abstract The natural hydration of obsidian was first proposed as a dating technique for young geological and archaeological specimens by Friedman and Smith (1960), who noted that the thickness of the hydrated layer on obsidian artifacts increases with time. This approach is, however, sensitive to temperature and humidity under earth-surface conditions. This has made obsidian hydration dating more difficult, but potentially provides a unique tool for paleoclimatic reconstructions. In this paper we present the first successful application of this approach, based on combining laboratory-based experimental calibrations with archaeological samples from the Chalco site in the Basin of Mexico, dated using stratigraphically correlated 14C results and measuring hydration depths by secondary ion mass spectrometry. The resultant data suggest, first, that this approach is viable, even given the existing uncertainties, and that a cooling trend occurred in the Basin of Mexico over the past 1450 yr, a result corroborated by other paleoclimatic data. You do not have access to this content, please speak to your institutional administrator if you feel you should have access.