Quantitative assessment of Pb sources in isotopic mixtures using a Bayesian mixing model.

ABSTRACT: Lead (Pb) isotopes provide valuable insights into the origin of Pb within a sample, typically allowing for reliable fingerprinting of their source. This is useful for a variety of applications, from tracing sources of pollution-related Pb, to the origins of Pb in archaeological artefacts. However, current approaches investigate source proportions via graphical means, or simple mixing models. As such, an approach, which quantitatively assesses source proportions and fingerprints the signature of analysed Pb, especially for larger numbers of sources, would be valuable. Here we use an advanced Bayesian isotope mixing model for three such applications: tracing dust sources in pre-anthropogenic environmental samples, tracking changing ore exploitation during the Roman period, and identifying th

SUBMITTER: Longman J 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC5906678 | biostudies-literature | 2018 Apr

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature