Assaying, Microscopy, Mineralogy & XRF/XRD

Assaying, Microscopy, Mineralogy & XRF/XRD

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Started by
For those who are not aware of this choice, the Mining mode of pXRFs (Handheld Portable XRF) is not supposed to fit the needs of the Mining activities, nor the Soil mode the needs of Environmental activities. The Mining mode is expected to offer a...
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Last replied to by MattEck
I've not done any calibrations ever as we are just looking for patterns and not really values. My concern with calibrations to matrix changes is that they are not practical in an exploration environm...
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Started by David
I would be interested in hearing your views on what you feel is the best XRF instruments (Brand, Model).  In particular for usage in analysis of environmental and geological samples.  Anyone who has used this type instrument, please tell me if it...
Last replied to by David
Hi James, I get great service/cost from https://www.911metallurgist.com/profile/DH/
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Am wanting to develop a method for my company where our rig geos can use pXRF (portable XRF) on (Reverse Circulation Drill) RC chips as they are logging with the rig (so an on-site method). Most of my research indicates pulverised samples are better...
Last commented on by
65 mesh
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Started by Maya Rothman
What kind of samples do you XRF measure with semi-quantitative (or Standardless) package instead of a conventional calibration? And why? It seems that more and more analysis are made with semi-quantitative (or Standardless) package. Most of the tim...
Last replied to by
The fundamental parameters (FP) approach to calibration in XRF is based upon the theoretical relationship between measured x-rays and the concentrations of elements in the sample. It takes into accoun...
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What's the most difficult application you have worked on with your Handheld XRF Analyzer? In the spirit of the group theme I am interested in having people share their experiences with their most difficult XRF application. It would be great to have...
Last replied to by
Excellent point! If you you are not going to do some sample prep to homogenize the sample then you probably should take an average of a bunch of single spot analyses to come closer to a better overall...
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Does anyone know how deep generally a hand-held XRF HHXRF analysis can go in the sample? I believe it depends on the sample's density, but I'm looking for a general idea. In my case I work with rock samples.
Last replied to by Victor Bergman
Great discussion. I am particularly impressed with Pol's unique Taste and Analyze recommendation. If your analyzing powders, presumably in a sample cell and using a tripod mount, then I would use a f...
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Started by Helena Russell
I am analysing some refractory material in which Carbon content determination is essential, I am using Woechast Wax as binder to prepare a pressed pellet.But i fear that Carbon present in wax will alter the results. Have anybody idea?
Last replied to by Helena Russell
Thanks a lot, all of you. It was very interesting and knowledgeable for me. I have tried Boric acid fine powder it gives better results.. Thank you so much again..
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I am curious on your options about XRF Fusion Machines/Instruments for XRF sample prep. Over the years I have seen many interesting arguments about gas vs. electric furnace fusion instruments and I am curious about the groups experiences with either...
Last replied to by Bob Mathias
A lot of interesting comments! As for selecting between Gas and Electric machines, one comment XRF Scientific are increasingly hearing from customers is the concern about the costs associated with spa...
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Started by Maya Rothman
I want to set-up a XRF analyser based Laboratory. Which XRF X-Ray is best suited for top quality laboratory analysis of Alloys. XRF is a new area for me, I have spent many years on ICPOES and ICPMS
Last replied to by Bob Mathias
For analysis of alloys (mostly high atomic no. elements) XRF of any configuration will be suitable unless you require to measure trace contaminants. If only particular category of alloys are to be tes...
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Has anyone got access to a Horiba or Bruker micro-XRF spectrometer? Would it fit to measure geology samples with major contents of Nb, P, Fe, Ti, Mn, Si, Ta, Ba, Al, U and Ca?Also, How do they obtain chemical composition images and the requirements f...
Last replied to by
As stated above, there are many points to consider when measuring bulk minerals: I.E. Particle size, Mineralogical Matrix Effects, Analysis Volume, Sample Prep Methods, XRF software modeling and syste...
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We have to submit samples of bulk materials for rapid analysis and by convention here we use either semi-quantitative XRF or quantitative XRF, followed by ICP. We use PANalytical's Omnian for bulk analysis, major and trace-element. I'm told by one pe...
Last replied to by Maya Rothman
I am using Omnian for 3 years. Approximately reports every type of samples but i have set certain set of conditions related to sample preparation. Some samples calcined before making bead or Pressed ...
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Started by JohnnyD
If I was looking to buy an XRF to read and analyze and measure carbon percentage %C in steel?  What machine should I look at buying?
Last replied to by Helena Russell
You are probably better off paying an analysis lab to to spark OES. If you're committed to doing it yourself, you should consider some old chemical techniques, such as http://nvlpubs.nist.gov/nistpubs...
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We are a mining company producing fluorspar (F2Ca). We have been so far analyzing our mineral by the chemical method. We just bought an XRF spectrometer for complete analysis of: -F,Ca,Si,Al, Fe, Mg, Pb, S.The method is useful for us only if we can d...
Last replied to by
Yes, the 'nugget effect' can be critical in geological samples. The sample for XRF needs to be both representative and of a particle size smaller than the critical escape depth of the F X-rays. Taking...
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About XRF Interferences: Anyone can give me some tips about interelement corrections in XRF technique? What is the best situation to use fundamental parameters and what is the best one to use alpha corrections? I am currently work with fused beads ...
Last replied to by Victor Bergman
Alphas and fundamental parameters work well with fused beads - not so well with pressed pellets - the reason - in fused beads the elements are oxidized, dissolved and distributed evenly in the glass...
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I have a suspicious sample that might be Uraninite a radioactive, uranium-rich mineral and ore with a chemical composition that is largely UO2With handheld XRF I found out that the machine is showing 95% Bal. But I am pretty sure that the black min...
Last replied to by
You need to have balance mode option in Software, it is with Helmut-Fischer Handheld XRF XAN500, it is having Silicon Drift Detector (SDD). Please check lhttp://www.helmut-fischer.com/en/in/coating-th...
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XRF beads to determine Zn in concentrated mineral: I have problems with the determination of Zn, ore concentrate zn, by preparing fused beads. value of Zn is between 40 and 60%
Last replied to by David
I used my XRF for Zinc for sure http://www.911metallurgist.com/blog/compare-x-ray-xrf-to-laboratory-measurement-reliability
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Started by Maya Rothman
I am looking for the full manual of Delta Premium XRF. I face a problem in the Bluetooth pairing with Trimbel GPS
Last replied to by David
Here are the portable, handheld and desktop XRF user manuals:http://911Metallurgist.com/C/DELTA_Family--User-Manual-Canadian.pdfhttp://911Metallurgist.com/C/DELTA_PC_Software--UI_Guide-Manual-Canadia...
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One XRF manufacturer has had a combined XRF and XRD for the cement industry for a long time and I think there are a now few others. I am curious about peoples experience with these combo instruments. There must certainly be trade offs. Please keep yo...
Last replied to by
We sometimes use coupled XRF/XRD analyses in my university teaching and research. For XRD I have a large lab XRD and a transmission geometry benchtop system. The benchtop XRD has a small EDXRF built i...
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Started by JohnnyD
Are there anyone out there who analyze fertilizers by XRF on pressed pellets? If so what is the achieved precision on elements like N, P and S? and if you have any comments regarding sample prep in general.  We have found that its possible to analyz...
Last replied to by JohnnyD
Yes, I guess so. Based on the input we will revisit our case....and thanks to all the contributers
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Started by Maya Rothman
I have been trying to analyse halogens (five chemically related elements: fluorine (F), chlorine (Cl), bromine (Br), iodine (I), and astatine (At)) in soil & sediment samples at LLDs 0.5 ppm for iodine, 15 ppm for chlorine. I am able to get reproduc...
Last replied to by JohnnyD
Your results are perfectly reasonable given the calculated LLD's you reported for your set up( instrument, application set up , sample prep etc.) Typically reproducible results can be obtained at 3-5 ...
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Portable XRF use with Coarse Gold: We recently bought a handheld XRF unit for our exploration geologists. I want to use it in the mill when it's not being used for exploration and I want to see how others have utilized them in processing plants....
Last replied to by
They are going to do X-ray diffraction as well as XRF. It also mentions that there will be a sample preparation unit at the rig which will dry and prepare samples. We know that XRF works best if it is...
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Started by Bob Mathias
Which of the following is efficient in assaying carbon in Fire Assay? Directly fire assaying after pulverizing; or Ashing after pulverizing before fire assaying. Please explain why you will choose one over the other.
Last replied to by
Unless you analyze carbon on a irregular basis, no lab will want to pulverize the carbon. especially if its fully charges + 2000g/t, and other lower grade sold and rock samples has to be tested in the...
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Started by JohnnyD
For Analysis I used ASTM E815 – 99 (Determination of Calcium Fluoride in Fluorspar by Complexometric Titration) in order to determinate calcium fluoride in fluorspar, but now I want to mix light fluorspar (0.25%) with raw meal (in cement industry...
Last replied to by
The 'nugget effect' can be critical in geological samples. The sample for XRF needs to be both representative and of a particle size smaller than the critical escape depth of the F X-rays. Taking lots...
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About Exponential correction in calibration lines for Panalytical Cubix XRF applications: Could somebody explain how does this work on correcting a calibration line? It corrects for adsorption of fluorescence but i don't find enough information abo...
Last replied to by Helena Russell
My own experience as a cement chemist shows that a calibration using the classic model with alphas computed for median concentration values of your product using 1:10 dilution gives excellent results....
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Is it possible to analyze/assay rhodium in samples if your WD-XRF has a Rh target in the tube? I am presuming that it is not possible unless one has a tube with a different tartget element. If anyone has insight on this, it would be appreciated.
Last replied to by
The comments by the contributors to this discussion do a good job of highlighting the advantages of both the WDXRF & EDXRF systems. Among these are the flexibility to optimize the instrument parameter...
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Started by Helena Russell
We have been analyzing colemanite (a secondary mineral that forms by alteration of borax and ulexite) by WDXRF (except B2O3) then finding the B2O3 content by means of wet chemical analysis. And the wet chemical analysis part lasts a little long. Of c...
Last replied to by Victor Bergman
I would suggest that colemanite with its high B2O3 content should be almost self fluxing. The colemanite should decompose releasing H2O to make a glass of sorts CaO.xB2O3 and these will melt in the te...
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I am interested in hearing people's views on pressed pellets. What is the maximum pressures you use? What is the most common pressure you use? What is the minimum pressure you use?
Last replied to by
In Summary: Following are the Key Parameters responsible for preparing a Pressed Pellet to obtain an accurate and reproducible XRF results; Selection of binder compatible to the sample matrix. To ...
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According to our procedures, for a long period of time, we have been preparing synthetic calibration standards in our Lab to develop applications for XRF analysis of various matrix samples. Here the wet chemical analysis facilities are also availabl...
Last replied to by
Valid points put across by Mr. Ali...the last note mentions that the Fused bead method had to be used...PANalytical's WROXI works in this fashion, all are synthetically prepared. In one installation, ...
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Started by David
For a great Portable XRF for Geologists training course contact https://ca.linkedin.com/in/cynthiadawncollins
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Started by Maya Rothman
Can anyone suggest good ref to explain the difference between Large Drift Detector (LDD) and Silicon Drift Detector (SDD)? In regard to handheld field XRF unit.
Last replied to by
The main difference between the two options for detectors (SDD vs. LSDD) is that the LSDD has a larger area resulting in, ideally, more counts and shorter test times for the larger detector. Between d...
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Started by Maya Rothman
Hi all, i am still new user of Delta premium XRF I want to know more about the interpretation of the analysis spectrum. Can anyone share with us something from his experiences. thanks alot
Last replied to by
May,Looking at spectra is of key interest at least in two cases:your instrument detects and analyses an unexpected element (one that is not usually found in your geological context, for instance),you ...
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I am curious to hear among you, and hoping for user reviews as to who've been using those Handheld XRF instruments whether it matched your expectations and suited your need? Would you recommend them to other potential users? pXRF instruments fe...
Last replied to by David
My Delta Pro fantastic! http://www.911metallurgist.com/blog/compare-x-ray-xrf-to-laboratory-measurement-reliabilityHere is an XRF Brand Comparison Table.
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Started by David
Is there such a thing as a mini XRF, I mean an XRF with dimension around 10cm x 10cm x 10cm?
Last replied to by
INEL makes a mini XRD close to these dimensions.
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I need an Analysis for platinum in rock samples and hoping an XRF can shot platinum. Does anyone know if there is any portable or handheld analytical equipment that can quantitatively analyze Platinum in rock samples at less than 1ppm? I do not kn...
Last replied to by
With PGEs and with Au, detection limit is not the most important feature. In many cases, their distribution is highly heterogeneous, with frequent nugget effects. In this case, the pXRF beam may miss ...
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Started by Helena Russell
I am thinking of travelling to central/west Africa with a pXRF device for a short project assessment inspection trip. Have used them for several years, purchased two, and travelled to PNG with one with no problems. Has anyone had trouble entering/exi...
Last replied to by Helena Russell
Thanks guys for the useful and interesting responses. This will help my travelling with this Portable XRF.

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