Hostname: page-component-78c5997874-4rdpn Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-11-14T11:17:37.819Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

Trace Element Analysis of Rocks by X-ray Spectrometry

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  06 March 2019

Bruce W. Chappell
Bruce W. Chappell*
Affiliation:
Department of Geology The Australian National University GPO Box 4, Canberra, ACT 2601, Australia
Get access

Extract

Undoubtedly the most important applications of X-ray fluorescence spectrometry (XRF) have been in the analysis of major elements where the technique provides a unique method of measuring the concentration of all elements having Z > 10 with extremely good precision in a wide range of matrices. However, XRF is in addition a powerful method for trace element analysis. In this discussion, the principles of the method for the trace element analysis of rocks are outlined, its capabilities are summarized, and the advantages and disadvantages of the technique are pointed out.

Type
VI. Geological and Other Applications of X-Ray Spectrometry
Information
Advances in X-Ray Analysis , Volume 34: Thirty-Ninth Annual Conference on Applications of X-ray Analysis, July 30 - August 3, 1990 , 1990 , pp. 263 - 276
Copyright
Copyright © International Centre for Diffraction Data 1990

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

Chappell, B. W., Compston, W., Arriens, P. A., and Vernon, M. J., 1969, Rubidium and strontium determinations by X-ray fluorescence spectrometry and isotope dilution below the part per million level, Geochim. cosmochim. Acta, 33: 1002.Google Scholar
Chappell, B. W., and Hergt, J. M., 1989, The use of known Fe content as a flux monitor in neutron activation analysis, Chem. Geol, 78: 151.Google Scholar
Compston, W., Berry, H., Vernon, M. J., Chappell, B. W., and Kaye, MJ., 1971, Rubidium-strontium chronology and chemistry of lunar material from the Ocean of Storms, Proc. 2nd Lunar Sci. Conf., 2: 1471.Google Scholar
Compston, W., Chappell, B. W., Arriens, P. A., and Vernon, MJ., 1969, On the feasibility of NBS 70a K-feldspar as a Rb-Sr age reference standard, Geochim. cosmochim. Acta, 33: 753.Google Scholar
Compston, W., Chappell, B. W., Arriens, P. A., and Vernon, M. J., 1970, The chemistry and age of Apollo 11 Lunar Material, Proc. Apollo 11 Lunar Sci. Conf., 2: 1007.Google Scholar
Compton, A. H., and Allison, S. K., 1935, “X-rays in Theory and Experiment”, Van Nostrand, New York.Google Scholar
Galson, D. A., Atkin, B. P. and Harvey, P. K., 1983, The determination of low concentrations of U, Th and K by XRF spectrometry, Chem. GeoL, 38: 225.Google Scholar
Harvey, P. K., 1989, Automated X-ray fluorescence in geochemical exploration, in: “X-ray Fluorescence Analysis in the Geological Sciences”, Geological Association of Canada Short Course, 7: 221.Google Scholar
Harvey, P. K., and Atkin, B. P., 1982, The estimation of mass absorption coefficients by Compton scattering: extensions to the use of Rh Kα Compton radiation and intensity ratios, Amer. Min., 32: 291.Google Scholar
Jenkins, R., 1988, “X-ray fluorescence spectrometry”, Wiley, New York.Google Scholar
Moseley, H. G. J., 1913, The high-frequency spectra of the elements, Phil. Mag., 26: 1024.Google Scholar
Norrish, K., and Chappell, B. W., 1967. X-ray fluorescence spectrography, in: “Physical Methods in Determinative Mineralogy”, J. Zussman, ed., pp. 161–214, Academic Press, London.Google Scholar
Norrish, K., and Chappell, B. W., 1977, X-ray fluorescence spectrometry, in: “Physical Methods in Determinative Mineralogy”, 2nd Ed., J. Zussman, ed., pp. 201–272, Academic Press, London.Google Scholar
Norrish, K., and Taylor, R. M., 1962, Quantitative analysis by X-ray diffraction, Clay Miner. Bull., 5: 98.Google Scholar
Pfeiffer, H. G.. and Zemany, P. D., 1954, Trace analysis by X-ray emission spectrography, Nature, 174: 397.Google Scholar
Potts, P. J., Webb, P. C., and Watson, J. S., 1985, Energy dispersive X-ray fluorescence analysis of silicate rocks: comparisons with wavelength-dispersive performance, Analyst, 110:507–513.Google Scholar
Potts, P. J., 1987, “A handbook of silicate rock analysis”, Blackie, Glasgow.Google Scholar
Reynolds, R. C., 1963, Matrix corrections in trace element analysis by X-ray fluorescence: estimation of the mass absorption coefficient by Compton scattering, Amer. Min., 48: 1133.Google Scholar
Robinson, P., Higgins, N. C., and Jenner, G. A., 1986, Determination of rare-earth elements, yttrium and scandium in rocks by an ion-exchange X-ray fluorescence technique Chem. Geol., 55: 121.Google Scholar
Willis, J. P., 1989, Compton scatter and matrix correction for trace element analysis of geological materials, in: “X-ray Fluorescence Analysis in the Geological Sciences”, Geological Association of Canada Short Course, 7: 91.Google Scholar
Willis, J. P., 1990, Mass absorption coefficient determination using Compton scattered tube radiation: applications, limitations and pitfalls, this volume. Google Scholar