An Iranian booklet: non destructive examination by Energy Dispersive X-Ray Diffractometry and Micro-Raman Spectroscopy

Energy Dispersive X-Ray Diffractometry was used in combination with micro-Raman Spectroscopy to study an undated illuminated Iranian booklet. In both cases, no preliminary preparation of the samples was needed: the data were acquired in a non-destructive way in a natural environment. The book is of particular interest because of the unusual presence of miniatures on some pages. The two techniques were used to collect data from small areas of the pages and in different regions of the miniature in order to identify inks and pigments and to attempt chronological assignment. Raman spectra were affected by strong background fluorescence. In spite of this, different peaks were detected and identified. Black and red inks were found to be cinnabar and carbon black, respectively. Spectra of pigments in the miniatures demonstrate the presence of rutile and calcite. Such assignments were confirmed by the EDXD results which provided evidence for the presence of titanium (rutile) and calcium (calcite). The presence of rutile suggested that the miniature may have been inserted later on the booklet preparation.