• Spectroscopy and Spectral Analysis
  • Vol. 42, Issue 1, 215 (2022)
Ji-fu LIU1、*, Ming-xing YANG1、1; *;, Yue SU1、1;, and Yue LIU2、2;
Author Affiliations
  • 11. Gemmological Institute, China University of Geosciences (Wuhan), Wuhan 430074, China
  • 22. Yangzhou Jade Product Quality Supervision and Inspection Center, Yangzhou 225000, China
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    DOI: 10.3964/j.issn.1000-0593(2022)01-0215-07 Cite this Article
    Ji-fu LIU, Ming-xing YANG, Yue SU, Yue LIU. Analysis of Material and Source of Archaic Jade From the Tomb of Marquis Yi of Zeng in Suizhou, Hubei Province[J]. Spectroscopy and Spectral Analysis, 2022, 42(1): 215 Copy Citation Text show less

    Abstract

    Located on the outskirts of Suizhou City, Hubei Province, the tomb of Marquis Yi of Zeng state is one of the major archaeological discoveries of the 20th century, among which more than 500 pieces of jade and stone tools have been unearthed. The comprehensive and scientific identification of these jade and stone tools with modern testing instruments will be of great academic significance for studying the level of jade used in Zeng during the Eastern Zhou Dynasty. In order to obtain the types and possible sources of archaic jade, this paper takes 319 jade articles as the research objects and adopts the research ideas and methods of gemology and spectroscopy to carry out non-destructive tests on these samples. The surface characteristics, erosion degree and types of samples were preliminarily judged by conventional gemological detection instruments such as tenfold magnifying glass and electronic balance. Fourier transform infrared spectrometer (FTIR) and X-ray fluorescence spectrometer (XRF) were used to analyze the mineral phase and chemical composition of unearthed jade samples quickly and nondestructive. The results show that the materials of unearthed jade can be well distinguished by conventional instrument test combined with infrared spectrum and X-ray fluorescence spectrum. Among the 319 jade articles unearthed from the tomb of Marquis Yi of Zeng, there are 264 tremolite, 43 marble, 8 mica, 1 quartzite, 1 fluorite and 2 crystal. XRF test results showed that tremolite accounted for 82.8% of all samples, and its main chemical composition ranged from MgO=20.03%~27.00%, SiO2=56.31%~61.17%, CaO=14.25%~19.91%, FeTO=0.19%~2.06%, and the calculated value of m(Mg)/m(Mg+Fe) ranged from 0.91~0.99. It can be seen that tremolite jade is the main material of archaic jade from the tomb of Marquis Yi of Zeng. Among them, most of the high-quality tremolite jades were unearthed in independent tombs, reflecting people’s level of using jade and their habits of using it at that time. According to the current research results, combined with the chemical composition analysis and some samples with characteristic weathering cortex and gobi material characteristics, it is speculated that part of archaic jade came from the ancient jade mine of Gansu province. The conclusion of this paper provides more data for further study on the jade system of Zeng state and the Jade Road in the Warring States period.
    Ji-fu LIU, Ming-xing YANG, Yue SU, Yue LIU. Analysis of Material and Source of Archaic Jade From the Tomb of Marquis Yi of Zeng in Suizhou, Hubei Province[J]. Spectroscopy and Spectral Analysis, 2022, 42(1): 215
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