Electron probe X-ray microanalysis of archeological finds of the Baikal region

A procedure was developed for determining Fe, Ni, Sn, and Zn in copper by electron probe X-ray microanalysis. The dependence of the detection limits for analytes on excitation conditions was studied and the optimum conditions for measuring the analytical signal were found. It was shown that the precision of quantitative electron probe microanalysis depends on the homogeneity of the reference samples. Individual certified reference samples of copper alloys previously synthesized for spectrochemical and chemical analysis were applied to electron probe microanalysis and justified. Performance characteristics of the proposed procedure were evaluated. Examples of using the procedure for determining the composition of archeological finds from a burial place in the Baikal region are presented.