TITLE:
Iron-Rich Red Clays on the Turin Shroud: Optical Microscopy Studies and SEM-EDX Analyses
AUTHORS:
Gérard Lucotte, Thierry Thomasset, Thierry Deroin
KEYWORDS:
Turin Shroud, Face Area, Red Clays, Optical Microscopy, Scanning Electron Microscopy, Energy Dispersive X-Ray
JOURNAL NAME:
Archaeological Discovery,
Vol.12 No.1,
January
24,
2024
ABSTRACT: We have explored by optical microscopy and scanning electrons microscopy coupled with energy dispersive X-ray fifteen particles located in a sample of the Face area of the Turin Shroud. They have the following peculiarities: they are alumino-silicate clays, with an elevated content (up to 56%) of iron; their sides are comprised between 1.5 μm and 19 μm; their forms are rounded or more elongated, but more often with angular outlines. When observable, their colours are red or red-brown. All these particles have a little quantity of the phosphorous element (up to 5%) in their compositions. The biggest ones show some morphological heterogeneity on their surfaces, suggesting that they are chipboards of some micro-organisms.