Determination of rare-earth elements in rocks by isotope-excited X-ray fluorescence spectrometry

Helmar Kunzendorf, H.A. Wollenberg

    Research output: Contribution to journalJournal articleResearchpeer-review

    Abstract

    Isotope-excited X-ray fluorescence spectrometry furnishes a rapid determination of rare-earth elements in unprepared rock samples. The samples are excited by 241Am γ-rays, generating X-ray spectra on a multichannel pulse-height analyser. Gaussian peaks of the Kα and Kβ X-ray energies are treated by the least-squares method to yield the fractions of La, Ce, Pr, and Nd in the samples. A calibration was established between the fractions of Ce and Nd and their abundances determined by mass spectrometry. Statistical considerations indicated that detection limits are of the order of 10 ppm. An X-ray spectrometric scan of a longitudinally sliced drill core showed a close correlation between rare-earth abundances and appropriate minerals.
    Original languageEnglish
    JournalNuclear Instruments and Methods
    Volume87
    Issue number2
    Pages (from-to)197-203
    ISSN0029-554X
    DOIs
    Publication statusPublished - 1970

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