Carolyn Chenery

Your question about isotopic measurement of  'diagenetic' carbonate
in bone is not entirely straightforward.  Firstly, do you know
whether you do have diagenetic carbonate present?  It is not always
the case. Acid leaching does attack simple carbonates but also the
apatite carbonate (which is in different positions that have
differing solubilities), so they can be somewhat difficult to
separate.  Particle size of your samples affects dissolution rate
too. There are many papers which might help you indirectly. Try
Nielsen-Marsh and Hedges 2000 J archaeol Sci. 27, pp1151-,  Lee-Thorp
et al 1997 Bull Soc geol. France, 168, 767-773, Saliege J.F et al
1995 J. archeol Sci 22, p. 301-312, and refs in those.  Last year
there was a presentation at the IV Bone Diagenesis meeting in Spain,
by a French group who had done some timed leaching experiments and
isotopic analyses.

Julia Lee-Thorp

> Date:          Sun, 10 Jun 2001 17:09:00 +0100
> Reply-to:      Stable Isotope Geochemistry <[log in to unmask]>
> From:          "Chenery, Carolyn A" <[log in to unmask]>
> Subject:       Diagenetic carbonate on/in bone
> To:            [log in to unmask]

> Dear All
> I am interested in separating/recovering diagenic carbonate from bone for
> isotopic analysis (of the diagenic component).  I would like to distinguish
> between the structural P-CO3 and secondary carbonate to compare with
> phosphate oxygen. I have already analysed the total carbonate, structural
> phosphate carbonate and the phosphate oxygen. Can anyone give advise or
> references?
> Many thanks in advance.
> Cheers,
> Carolyn
>
> Carolyn A. Chenery
>
> NERC Isotope Geoscience Laboratory
> British Geological Survey
> Kingsley Dunham Centre
> Keyworth, Nottingham
> U.K. NG12 5GG
>
> e-mail:  [log in to unmask]
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>            (+44) 01159 363119 (laser laboratory)
>            (+44) 01159 363302 (fax)
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> The NIGL Web Site is: http://www.bgs.ac.uk/nigl/index.htm
> The BGS Main Web Site is: http://www.bgs.ac.uk/
>
>
Julia Lee-Thorp
Associate Professor
Faculty of Science
University of Cape Town
P/B Rondebosch 7701
South Africa
Tel. 027-21 6502350
Fax. 027-21 6502352