{"id":57570,"date":"2024-07-02T14:41:47","date_gmt":"2024-07-02T11:41:47","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/geoconversation.org\/portable-x-ray-fluorescence-analyzer-instructions-for-use\/"},"modified":"2026-05-07T19:55:30","modified_gmt":"2026-05-07T16:55:30","slug":"portable-x-ray-fluorescence-analyzer-instructions-for-use","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/geoconversation.org\/en\/portable-x-ray-fluorescence-analyzer-instructions-for-use\/","title":{"rendered":"Portable X-Ray Fluorescence Analyzer: Instructions for Use"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Portable analyzers are used for geological exploration work. They cost tens of thousands of dollars, but if you don’t know how to use them, it’s easy to lose that money.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n

The head of the Laboratory of X-ray Spectral Analysis Methods Oleg Nabelkin and leading consulting geologist Elena Ryazanova spoke about how not to discover a barium deposit where there is no trace of it, what elements cannot be measured, how to buy an analyzer and how to handle it.<\/p>\n\n

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Article partner:<\/strong> SNK PVP<\/a>, a supplier of portable X-ray fluorescence analyzers. These instruments are widely used in geology for rapid analysis of ores and rocks in the field.<\/p>\n

We will customize a solution for your needs! Read More…<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n

X-ray and fundamental parameters<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n

A portable XRF analyzer is a device that allows you to quickly determine the chemical composition of a sample. But how does it work? Let’s figure it out.<\/p>\n\n\n

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\"Rice.<\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n
\"Rice.<\/a><\/figure>\n
This is what the result of analyzing the chemical composition of the sample and its X-ray spectrum look like.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n

How does X-ray work?<\/h3>\n\n\n

Let’s take the planetary model of the atom. At its center is a nucleus around which electrons rotate in their orbits. X-ray radiation from the analyzer knocks an electron out of its inner orbit. There’s a hole in orbit! Atom is excited and strives to patch it up. Electrons from higher orbits rush towards it. When an electron jumps to a lower orbit, the difference between the two energy levels is emitted – an X-ray quantum. This quantum is captured by the analyzer.<\/p>\n\n\n

The energy level closest to the nucleus is called the K-level, all transitions to it are called K-transitions, and the lines that we see in the spectrum are called K-lines. The lines at this level are the most intense. The second level from the nucleus is called the L-level, and transitions of electrons to it from upper orbits are called L-transitions, and in the spectrum we see L-lines.<\/p>\n\n\n

\"Rice.<\/a>
The solid line indicates the orbits of the K and L levels, and the dotted line indicates the M and N levels. Transitions to them are in the long-wavelength range and are not detected by the analyzer.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n

When an electron descends into a neighboring orbit, the line is called \u03b1: K\u03b1, L\u03b1. When jumping over the orbit – \u03b2: K\u03b2, L\u03b2. K\u03b2 lines in the spectrum are always 7\u201310 times weaker than K\u03b1, L\u03b2 lines are 1.5\u20135 times weaker than L\u03b1, because it is much easier for an electron to jump from the nearest level to the neighboring one than through a level. The device records precisely the lines K\u03b1 and K\u03b2, L\u03b1 and L\u03b2. The remaining lines (M-, N-level) are too weak, the analyzer simply does not feel them.<\/p>\n\n\n

Each transition in an atom of any element is characterized by its own unique energy. Therefore, such radiation is called characteristic.<\/p>\n\n\n

\"Rice.<\/a>
This is what the K lines of iron, zinc, and arsenic look like in the spectra; L lines of gold and others.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n

Software<\/h3>\n\n\n

Often the analyzer software cannot be changed – what the factory installed is what we will use. It works using the method of fundamental parameters.<\/p>\n\n\n

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Let’s take an iron atom. Here it emits, for example, the K\u03b1 line. It is absorbed to varying degrees by both the iron itself and other elements in the sample. For each line of each element there is a constant of absorption by the remaining elements – this is <\/em>fundamental parameter<\/em><\/strong>. Therefore, we will have to analyze all the elements in the sample in order to correctly calculate the influence of the elements on each other and give an accurate figure for the iron content.<\/em><\/p>\nOleg Nabelkin<\/em><\/cite><\/blockquote>\n\n\n

Here lies the rub. The analyzer does not know all the elements. We don\u2019t need the entire periodic table, since these instruments were first used to analyze alloys where the set of elements is known. There’s something the manufacturer didn’t include. If there is a lot of element in the sample unknown to the analyzer, the device will still not see it, will introduce corrections incorrectly and give an incorrect result. A good example of this is the analysis of metal oxides. The device does not sense oxygen and, as a result of the analysis, the content of any metal in any of its oxides will be equal to 100%.<\/p>\n\n\n

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They once brought me a tungsten-rhenium alloy to try on, but rhenium was not included in the factory program. But the device sees some lines! In rhenium, the K-lines of zinc fall exactly into the L-spectrum. So he decided that I had a tungsten-zinc alloy.<\/em><\/p>\nOleg Nabelkin<\/em><\/cite><\/blockquote>\n\n\n

Some brands of analyzers have open calibration. It does not take into account the influence of the elements in the sample on each other, and you need to interpret the spectrum in the program yourself.<\/p>\n\n\n

Selecting an analyzer for the task<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n

Initially, portable analyzers were produced for the analysis of steel and alloys, where there are only 14\u201315 components, and the sum of their contents is 100%. Later them Geologists began to use<\/a> for sorting samples on site, because it is fast – 30 seconds and you have a spectrum of all the elements in the sample. During the season, based on the results of the analysis, a ditch or pit can be laid.<\/p>\n\n\n

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In Chukotka, at a silver-gold object, we measured anomalies recorded in the 80s and 90s. We obtained about 2,000 ore samples. On the spot we examined them for copper, zinc, bismuth, and antimony. About 600 samples that showed anomalous values \u200b\u200bfor these elements were taken to Moscow. Very convenient.<\/em><\/p>\nOleg Nabelkin<\/em><\/cite><\/blockquote>\n\n\n