Quantitative assessment of Pb sources in isotopic mixtures using a Bayesian mixing model

Longman, Jack, Veres, Daniel, Ersek, Vasile, Phillips, Donald L., Chauvel, Catherine and Tamas, Calin G. (2018) Quantitative assessment of Pb sources in isotopic mixtures using a Bayesian mixing model. Scientific Reports, 8. p. 6154. ISSN 2045-2322

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Official URL: http://www.nature.com/articles/s41598-018-24474-0

Abstract

Lead (Pb) isotopes provide valuable insights into the origin of Pb within a sample, typically allowing for reliable fingerprinting of their source. This is useful for a variety of applications, from tracing sources of pollution-related Pb, to the origins of Pb in archaeological artefacts. However, current approaches investigate source proportions via graphical means, or simple mixing models. As such, an approach, which quantitatively assesses source proportions and fingerprints the signature of analysed Pb, especially for larger numbers of sources, would be valuable. Here we use an advanced Bayesian isotope mixing model for three such applications: tracing dust sources in pre-anthropogenic environmental samples, tracking changing ore exploitation during the Roman period, and identifying the source of Pb in a Roman-age mining artefact. These examples indicate this approach can understand changing Pb sources deposited during both pre-anthropogenic times, when natural cycling of Pb dominated, and the Roman period, one marked by significant anthropogenic pollution. Our archaeometric investigation indicates clear input of Pb from Romanian ores previously speculated, but not proven, to have been the Pb source. Our approach can be applied to a range of disciplines, providing a new method for robustly tracing sources of Pb observed within a variety of environments.

Item Type: Article
Uncontrolled Keywords: Environmental impact, Geochemistry, Palaeoclimate
Subjects: F600 Geology
F800 Physical and Terrestrial Geographical and Environmental Sciences
Department: Faculties > Engineering and Environment > Geography and Environmental Sciences
Depositing User: Paul Burns
Date Deposited: 05 Apr 2018 14:10
Last Modified: 01 Aug 2021 09:01
URI: http://nrl.northumbria.ac.uk/id/eprint/33908

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