Skip to main content

Semi-quantitative analysis of geological samples

AppNote XRF1071: semi-quantitative FP analysis of geological samples

Background

Requirement of quick determination of elements in geological samples has been increasing for industries, environment and earth science. They are, for example, exploration of resource, operation of mining, discrimination of contaminated materials hazardous to environment and human health and characterization for geochemical profiling. Geological samples are generally composed of wide and various elements. Therefore, the analysis method for such unknown samples requires flexibility in addition to quickness. Semi-quantitative analysis in modern XRF instruments is a unique method which is performed without any reference materials used for the unknown sample analysis. SQX is Rigaku’s semi-quantitative analysis (standardless analysis) program to obtain concentrations by theoretical calculation using the fundamental parameter (FP) method and internal sensitivity library. The calculation is performed by using results of sequential scan measurement from boron or fluorine to uranium. The program is integrated with the theoretical overlapping correction function. Therefore, SQX analysis is highly optimized for screening analysis of unknown geological samples. This note demonstrates determination of the chemical composition in geological samples by using the semi-quantitative analysis method.

WDXRF Products from Rigaku

Benchtop tube below sequential WDXRF spectrometer analyzes O through U in solids, liquids and powders

High-power, tube-below, sequential WDXRF spectrometer with new ZSX Guidance expert system software

High power, tube above, sequential WDXRF spectrometer with new ZSX Guidance expert system software

Affordable, high-end, tube-above Industrial WDXRF for the analysis of solid samples

WDXRF spectrometer designed to handle very large and/or heavy samples

High-throughput tube-above multi-channel simultaneous WDXRF spectrometer analyzes Be through U

WDXRF ultralow chlorine analyzer

WDXRF ultra low sulfur analyzer for method ASTM D2622