X-ray fluorescence analysis of major, trace, and rare earth elements in silicate rocks using the low-dilution glass bead method

This paper reports on updates to the system used for quantitative analyses of major, trace, and rare earth elements in silicate rocks by X-ray fluorescence spectrometry (RIX3000) at the National Institute of Polar Research. We added Sc and Th to the list of measured elements, and the overlap coeffic...

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Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Yoshimitsu Suda, Yoichi Motoyoshi
Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
Language:English
Published: National Institute of Polar Research 2011
Subjects:
geo
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.15094/00009615
https://doaj.org/article/96193214754240febf3ac39920a4d78e
Description
Summary:This paper reports on updates to the system used for quantitative analyses of major, trace, and rare earth elements in silicate rocks by X-ray fluorescence spectrometry (RIX3000) at the National Institute of Polar Research. We added Sc and Th to the list of measured elements, and the overlap coefficient of Th is used for the measurement of Nb. The geochemical standard samples SY-3 (Canada) and JCh-1 (Japan) have been added to the existing set of standard samples to improve the precision of analyses of SiO_2 and rare earth elements. Furthermore, we established a new method of evaluating the analytical error, making it possible to use analytical data for geochemical evaluation while considering the precision of the data. We also found that the analytical error may increase as a consequence of using a different lot number of the flux used in preparing the fused glass beads. It is therefore necessary to assess the background of the flux as well as the target elements, in terms of whether they are within the analytical error, before using a new flux.