Anthropogenic saltpetre
Dual (oxygen and nitrogen) isotopic constraints to the biogeochemical processes
Bibliographic Data
| ID | 8353947 |
|---|---|
| Authors | Chitoshi Mizota (0000-0001-5898-7328, Kurume University, corresponding author), Takahiro Hosono (0000-0001-7200-7912, Kumamoto University), Midori Matsunaga (Kumamoto University), Azusa Okumura (Kumamoto University), Toshiro Yamanaka (0000-0002-6807-6904, Okayama University) |
| Year | 2019 |
| Volume | 61 |
| Issue | 5 |
| Pages | 1175-1192 |
| Publication date | 2019-10-01 |
| Open Access | Yes |
| Type | ARTICLE |
| Venue | Archaeometry (JOURNAL) |
| Journal identifiers | ISSN: 0003-813X • E-ISSN: 1475-4754 |
| Publisher | Wiley (PUBLISHER • GB) |
| DOI | 10.1111/arcm.12472 |
| OpenAlex | W2937968553 |
| Language | EN |
| Citations received | 3 |
| References cited | 21 |
Saltpetre constitutes one of the major ingredients of gunpowder, which was a driving force during the political changes in late medieval to early modern times in Japan. Two types of model saltpetre mineralization are studied. One represents efflorescent saltpetre formed as the byproduct of indigo dye manufacture, whereas the second is anthropogenic, derived from relict nitre‐beds. Here, oxygen and nitrogen isotopic analysis, as expressed by δ 18 O and δ 15 N notations, is applied. The calculated δ 18 O values for ambient water, responsible for the microbial‐mediated oxidation of ammonium into oxygen in nitrates, tended to have higher ranges than average local meteoric waters of the relevant regions. An overall trend could be seen, showing the apparent positive nitrogen isotopic fractionation during the microbial transformation from initial organic nitrogen into nitrate product. Dual isotopic analysis for industrial nitrates provides a useful tool for investigation of the provenance of historic gunpowder. Present anthropogenic saltpetre involves positive control over temperature–moisture regimes and oxygen fugacity during formation, the process being distinctive from those prevailed in British India and other European countries
Archaeology · Biogeochemical cycle · Geography · Gunpowder · Mineralization (soil science) · Nitrate · Nitrogen · Oxygen · Archaeology and ancient environmental studies · Chemistry · Environmental Chemistry · Environmental Science · Geology and Paleoclimatology Research · Isotope Analysis in Ecology · Organic Chemistry
Variation of O18 content of waters from natural sources
Saltpetre Trade and Warfare in Early Modern Asia
Historic saltpetre of British Indian origin
Oxygen and nitrogen isotopic constraints to the origin of saltpetre in historic gunpowder prevailed during the 19th century in Japan
Stable isotopic characterization of gunpowder ingredients from the mid to late nineteenth century in Japan
Weapons and Warfare in Renaissance Europe
| Citations per year | 0.6 |
|---|---|
| Citation span | 2021 - 2025 (5) |
| Highly cited | No |