X-Ray Fluorescence (XRF) - Limitations for Mineral Identification
X-ray fluorescence (XRF) is a widely used analytical technique that can be used to identify and quantify the elemental composition of a wide range of materials, including minerals. However, XRF is generally not considered to be a suitable technique for identifying minerals, as it does not provide sufficient information about the chemical and structural properties of the sample in comparison to X-ray diffraction (XRD) and Fourier-transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy.
There are several reasons why XRF is not considered as a desirable technique for mineral identification:
XRF only measures the elemental composition of a sample, and does not provide information about the chemical bonds present in the sample. This makes it difficult to distinguish between different minerals that may have similar elemental compositions but different structures and properties.
XRF is not sensitive enough to detect trace elements that may be present in small amounts in a sample, and these elements may be important for identifying certain minerals.
XRF may not be able to distinguish between different isotopes of the same element, which can make it difficult to identify minerals that contain isotopes in small amounts.
In summary, XRF is a useful technique for identifying and quantifying the elemental composition of a sample, but it is not suitable for identifying minerals due to its limited ability to provide information about the chemical and structural properties of the sample. Other techniques, such as XRD and FTIR, are generally considered to be more suitable for identifying minerals.
Example of a wavelength dispersive XRF Spectrum
