Tracing ivory to its origin: microchemical evidence

Abstract

Animal tissues vary in microchemical composition because of the differences in geochemistry transmitted to the animal through food. Fluorescing X-ray spectroscopy and electron beam microprobe were used to measure chemical differences in ivory samples from three protected areas in Malawi and one in Zambia. These techniques are promising. Details of the experimental material such as the number of samples, sex and age of the elephants are given.