No description available.

This study is concerned with the compositional analysis of Roman and early post-Roman glass from both domestic assemblages and the remains derived from glass working and producing sites in Britain, using Inductively Coupled Plasma Spectrometry (ICPS). Samples analysed were from glassworking waste from Mancetter (midsecond century), Leicester (third century) and Worcester (first to third centuries), glass production debris, probably manufactured from the raw materials, in conjuncton with a domestic assemblage, from Coppergate (first to fourth centuries, or possibly later), and a domestic assemblage from Fishergate (spanning both the Roman and immediate post- Roman periods). All the glass analysed was shown to be of a typical and uniform soda-limesilica composition, except for a small number of vessel fragments from York which were higher in calcium. Any compositional differences between blue-green glasses typologically dated either to the Roman or Saxon periods, were found not to be consistent. Analysis of the colourless glass showed that the majority appeared to be actively decolorized using antimony, in conjunction with apparent differences in the compositions of the raw materials, when compared to glass of the same date in other colours. Compositional differences between melted waste from Mancetter, Leicester and Worcester, were apparent, but not to an extent which allowed characterization to be successful. Analysis of glassmelting pots from Coppergate showed some high temperature glassworking (and possibly glassmaking) could have occurred. Other debris, thought to be indicative of glassmaking was also analysed and compared to the composition of the Roman domestic assemblage.

This study is concerned with the compositional analysis of Roman and early post-Roman glass from both domestic assemblages and the remains derived from glass working and producing sites in Britain, using Inductively Coupled Plasma Spectrometry (ICPS). Samples analysed were from glassworking waste from Mancetter (midsecond century), Leicester (third century) and Worcester (first to third centuries), glass production debris, probably manufactured from the raw materials, in conjuncton with a domestic assemblage, from Coppergate (first to fourth centuries, or possibly later), and a domestic assemblage from Fishergate (spanning both the Roman and immediate post- Roman periods). All the glass analysed was shown to be of a typical and uniform soda-limesilica composition, except for a small number of vessel fragments from York which were higher in calcium. Any compositional differences between blue-green glasses typologically dated either to the Roman or Saxon periods, were found not to be consistent. Analysis of the colourless glass showed that the majority appeared to be actively decolorized using antimony, in conjunction with apparent differences In the compositions of the raw materials, when compared to glass of the same date in other 0 colours. Compositional differences between melted waste from Mancetter, Leicester and Worcester, were apparent, but not to an extent which allowed characterization to be successful. Analysis of glassmelting pots from Coppergate showed some high temperature glassworking (and possibly glassmaking) could have occurred. Other debris, thought to be indicative of glassmaking was also analysed and compared to the composition of the Roman domestic assemblage.

MSc (Chemistry / Department of Chemistry / In this study, three sampling sites (Tshipise thermal spring, Mphephu thermal spring and Siloam borehole) in Limpopo Province South Africa were considered for an investigation into the mineral composition of their water and soil samples. Tshipise and Mphephu thermal springs are well developed and located within tourist resorts. On the other hand, Siloam is a borehole on the grounds of a private household. The water is used for various domestic purposes such as laundry, general cleaning of the household and bathing. Water and soil samples from the three sites were collected once per week every week in February 2018. The sampling bottles were spiked with 1M HNO3 before sampling to keep any metal ions present in the water samples in solution. The soil and water samples were analysed for their chemical composition using X-ray fluorescence (XRF) and inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) respectively. XRF analysis of the soil samples found many major oxides of which SiO2 made up 63.67%, 85.37% and 46.28% by mass of Tshipise, Mphephu and Siloam soil samples respectively. XRF analysis also showed the presence of dangerous levels of heavy metals such as As, Tl, Pb and V. The analysis of the water samples by ICP-MS found that Tshipise, Mphephu and Siloam mineral water were soft, soft-moderately hard and soft-hard respectively with regards to the water hardness scale according to the United States Geological Survey (USGS) and the Water Quality Association (WQA). Analysis of water samples also found the presence of As, Cd, Cr and V. Arsenic was found to occur at concentrations above the Maximum Allowable Concentration (MAC) set by the World Health Organisation (WHO) (10 μg L-1) for Tshipise, Mphephu and Siloam mineral water (13.63 μg L-1, 15.83 μg L-1 and 20.97 μg L-1 respectively). Water temperatures for the three sites ranged from 38°C (Siloam borehole) to 64°C (Tshipise thermal spring). The pH values were 7.25 (Siloam borehole), 7.40 (Mphephu thermal spring) and 8.67 (Tshipise thermal spring). Due to the presence of As, Tl, Pb, V, Cd and Cr, the mineral water from all three thermal springs is unsafe to consume as it would lead to serious negative health effects some of which are outlined in this study. / NRF