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Volume 12
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10.3390/min12020177
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Article

Influence of Chemical Composition and Microvesiculation on the Chromatic Features of the Obsidian of Sierra de las Navajas (Hidalgo, Mexico)

by
Paola Donato
1,
Sandro Donato
2,3,*,
Luis Barba
4,
Gino Mirocle Crisci
1,
Maria Caterina Crocco
2,
Mariano Davoli
1,
Raffaele Filosa
2,
Vincenzo Formoso
2,5,
Giancarlo Niceforo
1,
Alejandro Pastrana
6,
Andrea Solano
7 and
Rosanna De Rosa
1
1
Department of Biology, Ecology and Earth Sciences, University of Calabria, Via P. Bucci 15B, 87036 Rende, Italy
2
Department of Physics, University of Calabria, 87036 Rende, Italy
3
Istituto Nazionale di Fisica Nucleare, Division of Frascati, Via E. Fermi 54, 00044 Frascati, Italy
4
Instituto de Investigaciones Antropológicas, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Ciudad de México 04510, Mexico
5
CNR–Nanotec, University of Calabria, Via P. Bucci 31C, 87036 Rende, Italy
6
Instituto Nacional de Antropología e Historia, Ciudad de México 06600, Mexico
7
Department of Informatics, Modellistics, Electronics and Systemistics, University of Calabria, 87036 Rende, Italy
*
Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Minerals 2022, 12(2), 177; https://doi.org/10.3390/min12020177
Submission received: 7 January 2022 / Revised: 26 January 2022 / Accepted: 27 January 2022 / Published: 29 January 2022
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Colours in Minerals and Rocks)
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Abstract

The obsidian of Sierra de las Navajas is well known for its green color and gold hue. In order to relate these features with compositional and microtextural characteristics, we have carried out a microanalytical study by Wave Dispersion System associated to Electron Probe Micro-Analyzer, Scanning Electron Microscope observation, and X-rays micro-tomographic analyses of samples showing different colors (dark to light green, sometimes with bands of different color intensity) and hues (changing, uniform, no hue). In accordance with previous studies, the green color of the obsidian seems to be related to a high iron content, probably in its reduced state. However, no significant difference in composition occurs between dark and light green samples. The SEM observation and microtomographic study revealed the absence of microcrystals and the occurrence of vesicles of different size, shape, and orientation. Lighter green colors are shown by highly vesiculated surfaces, whereas non-vesiculated samples are darker. On the surfaces with a high concentration of coarse vesicles, a uniform golden hue is observed. Decreasing vesiculation gives a hue changing with the angle of incident light. However, when the vesicularity approaches zero, no hue is visible. The iso-orientation of vesicles along preferential directions and their distribution in bands determine the variation in color intensity and hue on differently oriented surfaces. Microvesiculation also influences other characteristics that were important features for the use of obsidian in the past, such as fracture, transparency, and roughness.
Keywords: EPMA microanalysis; X-rays micro-tomography; SEM observation; light scattering; use of obsidian in Mesoamerica EPMA microanalysis; X-rays micro-tomography; SEM observation; light scattering; use of obsidian in Mesoamerica

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MDPI and ACS Style

Donato, P.; Donato, S.; Barba, L.; Crisci, G.M.; Crocco, M.C.; Davoli, M.; Filosa, R.; Formoso, V.; Niceforo, G.; Pastrana, A.; et al. Influence of Chemical Composition and Microvesiculation on the Chromatic Features of the Obsidian of Sierra de las Navajas (Hidalgo, Mexico). Minerals 2022, 12, 177. https://doi.org/10.3390/min12020177

AMA Style

Donato P, Donato S, Barba L, Crisci GM, Crocco MC, Davoli M, Filosa R, Formoso V, Niceforo G, Pastrana A, et al. Influence of Chemical Composition and Microvesiculation on the Chromatic Features of the Obsidian of Sierra de las Navajas (Hidalgo, Mexico). Minerals. 2022; 12(2):177. https://doi.org/10.3390/min12020177

Chicago/Turabian Style

Donato, Paola, Sandro Donato, Luis Barba, Gino Mirocle Crisci, Maria Caterina Crocco, Mariano Davoli, Raffaele Filosa, Vincenzo Formoso, Giancarlo Niceforo, Alejandro Pastrana, and et al. 2022. "Influence of Chemical Composition and Microvesiculation on the Chromatic Features of the Obsidian of Sierra de las Navajas (Hidalgo, Mexico)" Minerals 12, no. 2: 177. https://doi.org/10.3390/min12020177

APA Style

Donato, P., Donato, S., Barba, L., Crisci, G. M., Crocco, M. C., Davoli, M., Filosa, R., Formoso, V., Niceforo, G., Pastrana, A., Solano, A., & De Rosa, R. (2022). Influence of Chemical Composition and Microvesiculation on the Chromatic Features of the Obsidian of Sierra de las Navajas (Hidalgo, Mexico). Minerals, 12(2), 177. https://doi.org/10.3390/min12020177

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