Principal Component Analysis of Trace Elements from EDXRF Studies

Abstract

With the use of the EDXRF technique, the concentrations of 14 trace elements (Mn, Fe, Co, Ni, Cu, Zn, Ga, As, Rb, Sr, Y, Zr, Nb, and Mo) of Japanese pottery samples from three different regions were measured. Principal component analysis shows the possibility of discriminating between the various trace elements in terms of their being either useful or not useful variables by which Japanese pottery samples could be grouped according to their geographical origin.