Chemometric methods applied to the differentiation of Fourier-transform Raman spectra of ivories

Fourier-transform (FT) Raman spectroscopy and chemometrics are used as a non-destructive means of discriminating dentine from six mammalian species. The spectra are divided into eleven wavenumber regions and the area in each determined. Normalisation was achieved by dividing through by the values for one of the regions. Principal components and discriminant analysis of these values allows for classification of the six different species. The dentine spectra can also be differentiated from those of bone and cementum. The discrimination is based upon the ratio of the organic and inorganic components within the samples.