On-site non-Destructive identification of Dushan jade using portable Raman, pXRF, FTIR, and NIR

Abstract

Dushan jade, renowned as one of China’s ‘Four Famous Jades’, has a storied reputation, yet its historical application remains inadequately understood. The lack of scientific analysis of ancient Dushan jade artifacts has led to considerable ambiguity regarding its historical use. To address this gap, scientific identification is imperative. Given the extensive number of suspected Dushan jade artefacts, a rapid and portable analytical approach is essential. In this study, we employed portable Raman spectroscopy, X-ray fluorescence (pXRF), Fourier-transform infrared (FTIR), and near-infrared (NIR) devices to analyze ancient Dushan jad samples from three Yangshao culture sites in the Nanyang Basin and to compare them with modern Dushan jade specimens for comparison. Raman spectroscopy successfully identified anorthite and zoisite in both ancient and modern samples, consistent with the contemporary mineralogical definition of Dushan jade. Elemental analysis revealed that the primary components were SiO₂, Al₂O₃, CaO, and Fe₂O₃, while the trace elements included V, Cr, Co, Ni, Cu, Sr and Ba. Infrared spectra also showed similarities to anorthite and zoisite, with distinctive features observed in specific bands. Importantly, the indicators from ancient samples align with those of modern Dushan jade, confirming that consistency of composition and the reliability of these identifying markers. The presence of materials from diverse locations suggests a broad distribution of Dushan jade artifacts within Nanyang Basin. Further research with more extensive data could illuminate the formation and evolution of jade culture in the Central Plains, highlighting the significance of this study in advancing our understanding of Dushan jade.