HOME | ABOUT US | SERVICES | DOWNLOADS | NEWS | RESEARCH | SUPPORT

Back to the lab home page

Northwest Research Obsidian and FGV Characterization Services

Services XRF analysis of obsidian and fine-grained volcanic (FGV) artifacts and identification of artifact sources
Contact(s) Craig E. Skinner
Jennifer J. Thatcher
Address Northwest Research Obsidian Studies Laboratory
3269 SE Summerfield Dr.
Corvallis, OR 97333-2183
USA
Phone: 541-754-7507
Fax: Discontinued
E-mail: cskinner@obsidianlab.com
E-mail: info@obsidianlab.com
WWW: www.obsidianlab.com or www.sourcecatalog.com
Prices 1-5 samples .......... $50 per sample
6-50 samples .......... $38 per sample
51-100 samples .......... $35 per sample
100+ samples .......... $32 per sample
10% discount for projects with no written report (tables and data only).
35% surcharge for rapid turnaround (two weeks or less) projects.
Destructive? No
Elements Used Zn, Rb, Sr, Y, Zr, Nb, Ti, Mn, Fe, Ba
Sample Size and Preparation Minimum diameter of 10 mm; minimum thickness of 1.5 mm; larger sizes are preferred.
Samples should be clean and free of painted numbers on one surface.
Geographic Coverage Obsidian sources in Oregon, California, Washington, Idaho, Nevada, Wyoming, New Mexico, Arizona, Utah, Colorado, Montana, South Dakota, British Columbia, and the Western Mediterranean are well covered; incomplete but improving coverage for Alaska, and other scattered areas in the Mediterranean, Mexico, Middle East, and Pacific islands. Fine-grained volcanic (FGV) source identification is available although limited primarily to artifacts from the Lake Tahoe area of east-central California.
Source List Available? Yes - all obsidian sources included in the Northwest Research reference database are listed at the lab Web site. Descriptions of some sources can also be found in the U. S. Obsidian Source Catalog.
Reporting Report suitable for appendix with data tables plus CD with data (paper and Adobe Acrobat). Sample reports are available for review.
Payment Invoices are normally sent upon completion of project - payment may be made with cash, check, M.O., P.O., PayPal, Visa, or MasterCard.
Comments Reports can be customized upon request. We maintain a very active research program and are constantly adding new sources to our reference database. We will analyze limited quantities of geologic obsidian source material at no charge for sources that we do not currently have in our reference collection. If you would like to take us up on this offer, please call for details. We are also interested in geoarchaeological studies of geologic sources of obsidian and will provide analytical support for graduate students with an interest in this topic.

Click here to download <-- CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD A PRICE LIST OR SAMPLE SUBMISSION FORM (ADOBE ACROBAT)

Back to the Obsidian Lab Home Page
Back to the IAOS Obsidian Hydration Lab Directory

Last Updated: 05/10/2013
Northwest Research Obsidian Studies Laboratory