We provide a petrographical service for the identification and description of lithics, ore materials and ceramics on a contract basis. Collaboration on major projects where petrography could make an integral, sustained and significant contribution is very welcome.

Recent/current projects include Stonehenge Bluestones and Altarstone, Beaker wrist guards, Bronze Age whetstones; quernstones and polished stone axes of the Severn Basin. Bronze Age/ Iron Age and early Roman lithics and ceramics of the East and West Midlands, England (Crick, Grange Park, Whitemoor Hayes, Wroxeter, Herefordshire) and medieval stonework of south and southwest England (Banbury and Hereford). Bronze Age mines and ores (Western Ireland, Britain, Greece), Iron Age copper ores (Italy), Iron Age iron ores (Italy) and tin ores (Kestel, Turkey). Neolithic/Chalcolithic pottery (Italy), Inka, PreInka and Inka-Chimu ceramics (Peru), Maya ceramics (Honduras).

Costs are fully inclusive of sample preparation, travel (where appropriate) and secretarial/microscope time. Iron, aluminium and manganese ores and very fine-grained lithics namely shales, chert, flint, obsidian and marbles are less amenable to standard petrographical techniques (other than for wear analysis) hence a more limited service is offered for these materials.

PETROGRAPHICAL SKILLS TUITION

Petrography is an essential first step in most mineral studies, petrology or provenance studies of artefacts. There are two main petrographical methods.

Reflected Light Petrography: this is employed to investigate opaque minerals/materials. It has many similarities to metallography and is mainly used for describing metal ores and slags.

Transmitted Light Petrography: this is used to investigate translucent minerals/materials and is the standard method for describing rocks and ceramics.

Courses are offered in petrographical skills in either reflected or transmitted light (or a combination) to small groups or individuals. The courses run from 1 to 10 days and combine theory and practice but concentrate on the practical applications of the techniques. Each course is tailored to the participant's requirements. Both Beginner and Advanced courses are offered.

Examples of courses that have been given:

5 days: Theory and practice of ore petrography for teachers of ore petrography.
2 days: Reflected light for lithic studies of axe-heads.
2 days: An introduction to ore petrography for archaeologists.
2 days: Reflected light petrography of the iron-titanium minerals for palaeomagnetic workers.
1 and 2 days: Transmitted light petrography of lithics for archaeologists.
1, 2 and 10 days: Transmitted light petrography of ceramics for archaeologists.
10 days: Transmitted light petrography of Precolombian ceramics.