Independent macroscopic chemical mappings of cultural heritage materials with reflectance imaging spectroscopy: case study of a 16th century Aztec manuscript

. To obtain material specific mappings that are not affected by the presence of pigment mixtures, the necessity of applying particular spectral treatments is shown. The flaws and qualities of the resulting chemical images are discussed, along with their general potential for cultural heritage case studies. In summary, independent macroscopic chemical maps of cochineal lake, gypsum, and palygorskite (the clay that composes the mineral matrix of the famous Maya Blue pigment) on the pages of the manuscript were successfully obtained.