A geochemical study of four prehistoric quarries in Oaxaca, Mexico

Abstract

Petrographic and geochemical analyses of chert quarries used in antiquity for stone tool production in the Mixteca Alta, Oaxaca, Mexico have shown some promising results. This study combines petrography, electron microprobe analysis, hydrofluoric acid treatment, and isotope analysis to identify differences between four quarries and build a database of characteristics associated with each quarry. Major elements in trace amounts (Al, Ca, Na, Mg, and K) and their 18distribution, fossils, and ´O values were unable to distinguish unique characteristics of the four quarries presented. However, these methods did reveal interesting information regarding chert formation in general and specific processes that influenced chert formation in Oaxaca.