Rare Earth Element Distribution Patterns to Characterize Soapstone Artifacts

Abstract

The rare earth element (REE) concentrations measured in soapstone artifacts can be used as "fingerprints" to match the artifacts to the geological source of the soapstone. Instrumental neutron activation analysis was used to measure 20 trace elements in over 700 samples of soapstone from artifacts and geological outcrops. The variations between samples from the same geological formation were small even though they differed considerably in mineralogy. Different outcrops or formations could be distinguished based upon their trace element contents, especially by using the relative distributions of the REE. Matching artifacts and quarries in eastern North America suggests that much of the prehistoric use of soapstone was from nearby (75-100 km away) sources. There are also cases of resource procurement from distant (> 200 km) quarries.

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