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Free? Yes, really! There is a small catch, however. We will be happy to analyze geologic source samples of obsidian at no charge if we do not have samples from that source in our obsidian source reference database. To see what's in our current database, check our source reference list (we are definitely interested in the asterisked sources but may also be interested in others as well). We also may have only a few reference samples from some of the listed sources so it also won't hurt to check with us if you are interested in sources for which we do have samples. You collect the samples and we analyze them - you get the data to use however you please and we add it to our source reference database. This sounds like a fair exchange to us. If you're interested in taking us up on this offer, contact us via e-mail and we'll make the arrangements. If you're not sure, it won't hurt to check. Generally, we are looking for 15-30 samples with which to accurately characterize the source (although fewer than 15 is OK). From you, we'll need a description of the location and context of the samples (plus a map location, if possible). On our end, we will provide you with a data table showing the trace element composition of the analyzed samples. If you're in need of obsidian data for non-commercial research purposes, we will also be happy to share the results of our other XRF analyses of source material with you. Contact us for details. If you are a graduate student and in search of a worthwhile thesis research topic, you might want to consider a geoarchaeological investigation of one of the many archaeologically-significant yet still poorly-documented sources of obsidian. In the Far West of the United States, there are many sources of glass that were intensively used as prehistoric toolstone resources that have not been investigated in any detail. If you are interested in using one of these sources as a research focus, we will be glad to provide substantial laboratory analyical support for source material analyses.
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