Evaluation of the capacity of Raman Microscopy in the mineralogical and physico-chemical characterization of archaeological material: corroded metals, stained-glass and pigments

This study is based on the evaluation of the capacity of non-destructive physico-chemical analysis by Raman Microscopy in three artistic and archaeological domains: metal corrosion, stained-glass and Prehistoric pigments. The study presents different levels of results depending on the field of application. In relation to Prehistoric pigments the results show clearly the capacity of distinguishing in black pigments, manganese oxide from amorphous carbon, or, the facility of identification of hematite in red pigments. Concerning the study of the corrosion products of metals, RM is indubitably an ideal technique for the identification and differentiation of the diverse alteration products observed on archaeological metallic material (sulphates, chlorides, oxides...). Finally, in the case of stained-glass, the positive results obtained in the study of the glass itself or in the study of the superficial coloration is counterbalanced by the complexity of identification of glass coloration due to metallic colloid particles, or by the fluorescent problem particularly important in this last application. However, the global result is clearly optimistic and demonstrate the utility of such a non-destructive technique for archaeologists, restorers or conservators. (author)