Japanese Obsidian Website Database
Archaeological Obsidian X-ray fluorescence laboratories at Meiji University and Nagasaki University
Dr. Yoshimitsu Suda
Biography: Dr. Yoshimitsu Suda is a geologist specializing in obsidian studies and archaeological analysis. He earned his PhD, MS, and BS in Geology from Hiroshima University, Japan. Dr. Suda is an Associate Professor at Nagasaki University, having previously held an Assistant Professor role at the Center for Obsidian and Lithic Studies (COLS) at Meiji University. His research focuses on WDXRF, EDXRF and pXRF analyses for provenance studies of archaeological obsidian.
Office: Room 413, Faculty of Education, Nagasaki University, 1-14 Bunkyomachi, Nagasaki 852-8521, Japan
Email: geosuda(at) nagasaki-u.ac.jp
Major Publication List:
Yoshimitsu Suda, Tatsuro Adachi, Kazutaka Shimada, Yasuhito Osanai "Archaeological significance and chemical characterization of the obsidian source in Kirigamine, central Japan: Methodology for provenance analysis of obsidian artefacts using XRF and LA–ICP–MS" Journal of Archaeological Science, 129, 105377-105377, 2021
Yoshimitsu Suda, Miho Tsuchiya, Jun Hashizume, Minoru Oyokawa "Chemical discrimination of obsidian sources in the Kirigamine area and provenance analysis of obsidian artifacts from the Hiroppara prehistoric sites I and II, central Japan" Quaternary International, 468, 72-83, 27, 2018
Yoshimitsu Suda, Andrei V. Grebennikov, Yaroslav V. Kuzmin, Michael D. Glascock, Keiji Wada, Jeffrey R. Ferguson, Jong Chan Kim, Vladimir K. Popov, Sergei V. Rasskazov, Tatyana A. Yasnygina "Inter-laboratory validation of the WDXRF, EDXRF, ICP–MS, NAA and PGAA analytical techniques and geochemical characterisation of obsidian sources in northeast Hokkaido Island, Japan" Journal of Archaeological Science: Reports, 17, 379-392, 2018
Whole-rock analysis by WDXRF at Center for Obsidian and Lithic Studies, Meiji University
Since September 2011, the COLS has operated the Rigaku ZSZ primus III+ system for obsidian analysis. This system is specialized for obsidian analysis and can perform quantitative analyses of major and trace elements, including Zn, Rb, Sr, Y, Zr, Nb, and Th, using the fusion bead method.
Quantitative analysis by EDXRF at Faculty of Education, Nagasaki University
Since March 2023, we have installed and operated the Rigaku NEX DE EDXRF system for obsidian analysis. This system allows for the quantitative analysis of geological and archaeological obsidian using the Calibration Curve Method. The analytical elements include Si, Ti, Al, Fe, Mg, Mn, Ca, Na, K, P, Zn, Rb, Sr, Y, Zr, Nb, and Th. Several obsidian chips, whose compositions were determined using WDXRF, are used as standards.
Creation of Obsidian Standards: RS and CS
What is the Reference Set (RS)?
Compositional data on geological obsidian from various sources are necessary for conducting successful provenance studies of obsidian artifacts using XRFs. We store small-sized obsidian chips as reference samples for each obsidian source, with their compositions determined by WDXRF analysis. These obsidian chips collectively form what we refer to as the Reference Set (RS).
What is the Calibration Set (CS)?
To conduct accurate quantitative analysis of geological and archaeological obsidians using EDXRF and pXRF, it's essential to have several types of obsidians with reliably determined compositions. From the RS, we select multiple obsidian chips and designate them as calibration samples for EDXRF and pXRF analysis of obsidian. This selection of obsidian chips constitutes the Calibration Set (CS).
Obsidian Chip
Obsidian Chip Storage
pXRF analysis
Japanese obsidian database
Southwest (SW) Japan
Northeast (NE) Japan
North Japan
Obsidian database in the world
Mediterranean Region
Circum Pacific Sea Region
Copyrightc 2020 Dr. Yoshimitsu Suda, All Rights Reserved.