The Geosciences department operates a Bruker S4 Pioneer wav-length dispersive X-Ray Fluorescence spectrometer. This versatile spectrometer is capable of analyzing samples in solid, powder or liquid form.
Currently it is calibrated for major and trace elements analysis of all kinds of rocks, but the calibrations can be easily modified for applications of other kinds of materials (e.g., metals, ores, etc). A large number of rock and mineral standards from around the world are utilized to calibrate the spectrometer for major elements (Na2O, MgO, Al2O3, SiO2, P2O5, K2O, CaO, TiO2, MnO, Fe2O3) and trace elements (V, Co, Ni, Cu, Zn, Ga, Rb, Sr, Y, Zr, Nb, Ba, La, Hf, Ce, Th, Pb) . Major elements are analyzed in fused glass beads, while trace elements are analyzed in pressed pellets. Contaminant-free sample processing equipment, jaw crusher, alumina shatter box and alumina ball mill and mortar and pestle are used to pulverize rock samples to fine powder. For major element analysis, rock powder is first ignited in a muffle furnace for one hour at 1000°C to determine the LOI for each individual sample. The ignited sample is then mixed with a mixture of Li-tetra- and meta-borate flux and is fused into glass beads using an automated Claisse fluxer. For trace element analysis fine-grained rock powder is mixed with cellulose and is pressed (40000 lb/in2) into 30 mm diameter pellets.