We are aware of the continuing effort to stop the importation and trade of elephant ivory. Some are trying to make positive differentiation. Walrus ivory is easier to tell apart.
I am looking for those familiar with any experience regarding mammoth ivory. How to tell apart? Has anyone done tests on the differences of these two?
Joined: Wed Aug 24, 2011 11:48 am Posts: 584 Location: Odenton, Maryland
Carbon dating!
I guess part of the question is, what non-destructive indicators, and how do you convince a skeptical customs agent that you're not dealing in contraband?
They have different patterning iirc, and because of that it's not hard for an expert to differentiate them. I have heard of agents buying samples to test, though customs people can often be less discerning.
Thanks Isi. Yes, I have enlisted the aid of Maggie in this. Your suggestions are right in line with my search for answers. There was some great information found in the links. Carbon dating would be a good one too, but not a readily accessible instrument. Anyone know of additional gemmological instruments like XRF, FTIR, Raman, etc. that would be of aid?
I really liked this bit from the CITES link: "Another feature may be used to identify mammoth ivory. Mammoth ivory will occasionally display intrusive brownish or blue-green colored blemishes caused by an iron phosphate called vivianite. Elephant ivory will not display intrusive vivianite discoloration in its natural state. It is of interest to note that when the discoloration is barely perceptible to the eye, the use of a hand-held ultraviolet light source causes the blemished area to stand out with a dramatic purple velvet-like appearance. Even if discolored, elephant ivory will not have the characteristic fluorescence of vivianite."
I am not familiar wit ivory and mammoth at all, but what I can do for you, I can tell my guy to get a few samples of mammoth-bone at the mineral show in Chelyabinsk on the coming weekend and send to me. Then I will just forward samples to you for you own research. Actual bones are from "mammoth graveyard" near Tobolsk in Siberia.
Samples will not be large as he will need to fit in standard bubble-envelope..
_________________ All stones are alike, all stones are precious; but man sees only a few of them... Maurice Maeterlinck
Hi, It is pretty simple with FTIR: bone and tuck basically is made of Hydroxyapatite (HAP) with collagen (Amide I, II, III). After few tenth of a year bone starts to lose water, after thousands year collagen starts to decomposite: so there is distinctive difference between FTIR spectra of mammoth and elephant tusk additionally it is possible to make difference to different type of cut bones (from tusk). Sampling: I use DRIFT with sampling sticks, nondestructive and fast... Peters
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