Assaying, Microscopy, Mineralogy & XRF/XRD

Assaying, Microscopy, Mineralogy & XRF/XRD

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Minerals determination with X-Rays diffraction XRD (4 replies)

JohnnyD
8 years ago
JohnnyD 8 years ago

Different heavy sand placers are mainly composed with Iimenite, Zircon, Rutile Monazite and Xenotime. On all X-rays diffraction patterns, I still have high intensity “d-spacing” 2,34 - 1,65 - 1,48. which don't correspond to the here above minerals. Anyone can help or advise ? Has an XRD ever been good for you to do Mineral determination?

(unknown)
8 years ago
(unknown) 8 years ago

Check for alteration inclusions such as oxyhydroxides & boehmite.

JohnnyD
8 years ago
JohnnyD 8 years ago

Thanks for your advise.  It seems the "unknown peaks" were the results of the overlapping of minor peaks.

Maya Rothman
8 years ago
Maya Rothman 8 years ago

In case of multiple phases, and if you know most of them, I would be quite confident doing a Rietveld refinement of your XRD. Is that what you did? If not, how did you get your conclusion?

JohnnyD
8 years ago
JohnnyD 8 years ago

No, I didn't perform Rietveld refinement. I followed an XRD specialist who wrote :
"Peak height can be misleading as it can change depending on crystal shape and preferred orientation of the sample during sample preparation.
The peak at 38.5 appears to be a combination of reflections from zircon and monazite. Both zircon and monazite have 'minor' peaks at these locations that have combined to give a larger peak. The peak at 55.55 is a zircon peak combined with ilmenite peak .The peak at 62.90 is a minor zircon peak probably enhanced by a minor monazite peak and probably rutile too. " Above that, the chemicals analysis confirmed these conclusions. Thank you for your advise

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