The effects of iron degradation on electromagnetic geophysical signatures.

Summary

A comprehensive investigation concerning the relationship between the degradation of iron objects and electromagnetic geophysical signatures is desirable, considering the volume and variety of iron used in various societies. We propose creating iron oxides and investigating how iron oxides affect the electromagnetic signature of iron objects. Using electrolysis, iron rebar of known composition is oxidized at differing time intervals to determine levels of corrosion. Rebar will be analyzed using x-ray diffraction and other methods to determine precise corrosion products created. The final phase will be to analyze the degraded rebar in a field setting with the EM63 electromagnetic system and a magnetometer in order recognize the effect of different levels of degradation on the electromagnetic signature and therefore on the level of detectability of said object. We present these findings with the intention of discussing their implications in Historical and Classical Archaeology, as well as the field of electromagnetic geophysics.

This Resource is Part of the Following Collections

• A New Machine (Part 2): Scientific and Technological Applications in Historical Archaeology   •
• Society for Historical Archaeology 2013

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Contact(s): Society for Historical Archaeology

Record Identifiers

PaperId(s): 606