Measurement of sulfur isotopes in the ore of cinnabar mine in Japan

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  • 日本における辰砂鉱山鉱石のイオウ同位体比分析
  • ニホン ニ オケル シンシャ コウザン コウセキ ノ イオウ ドウイタイヒ ブンセキ

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Vermillion made from cinnabar ore was used for decorating the physical remains and the inner surfaces of burial facilities in ancient times. For this purpose, we measured the ratio of sulfur isotopes in the vermillion and compared the measurements with cinnabar ore collected from four mines in Japan and China, and to try and find the source of the vermillion used in ancient times. There are many cinnabar mines in Japan. Therefore, the aim of the present study is to measure the ratio of sulfur isotope of cinnabar ore in Japanese mines and to compare the ratio with mines in China. Sulfur isotope ratios in cinnabar ore collected in north, east and center regions in Hokkaido is about −4％, while the ratios of ＋4 to ＋9％ are measured in the Hidaka and south regions of Hokkaido. While the ratio of ore from the Niu mine in Mie measured −8.9％. While, the ratio of ore collected in the Kamio and Yamato mines in Nara are −3.0 and −3.1％, respectively. The ore from Tokushima mines measured −3.6 to −4.0％, with −5.3 to −5.8％ from the Ehime mines, and −2.4％ from the Kochi mines. In Kyushu, the ratios are -3.5 to -6.3 from the Oita mine, ＋1.9 from the Nagasaki mine, and -3.6 from the Kagoshima mine. From the present study, the ratio of sulfur isotopes in the cinnabar ore collected from Hokkaido mines is dependant on the mine. In contrast, the ratio in ore collected from the Niu mine shows significantly different from the ore in other mines. Therefore, it is concluded that the vermillion made from cinnabar ore collected from Niu mine can be determined from the measurement of the sulfur isotope ratio.

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