Assaying, Microscopy, Mineralogy & XRF/XRD

Assaying, Microscopy, Mineralogy & XRF/XRD

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XRF AND MINERALOGY (5 replies)

T
Tobi
7 years ago
Tobi 7 years ago

How best can one determine the total elemental composition of a substance/sample after been roasted?

R
rgardila
7 years ago
rgardila 7 years ago

One good idea is trohugh ICP (Inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry). 

P
dicksonp63
7 years ago
dicksonp63 7 years ago
1 like by

For elemental analyses - agree total digestion of solids then ICP, AA, ICP-MS (any of these)

If you want to know the mineralogy/crystal structures, etc then QEMSCAN can't be beat.  The labs who perform this work typically also do XRD as a back up/check.

(unknown)
7 years ago
(unknown) 7 years ago
P
max skinner
7 years ago
max skinner 7 years ago

For total elements and percentage, ICP is tough to beat. I can do a reasonable job with my hand held XRF gun. For the actual minerals involved a person well versed with the use of a electron microscope can do a great job of mineral identification. 

M
inOr
7 years ago
inOr 7 years ago
1 like by Adamfocus

My understanding is that XRF is a semi-quantitative  technique.  Measurements of concentrations of elements are not very precise, so low concentrations give meaningless results.  You don't say which elements are of interest to you.  Elements with low molecular weights are indetectable.  XRF is more suited to field use, hence the market for hand-helds.  ICP and related methods are much more precise, and commercial laboratories with the proper instrumentation and expertise are commonplace.  

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