| Title | An analytical protocol for determining the elemental chemistry of Quaternary sediments using a portable X-ray fluorescence spectrometer |
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| Author | Knight, R D ;
Kjarsgaard, B A; Russell, H A J |
| Source | Applied Geochemistry vol. 131, 105026, 2021 p. 1-15, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.apgeochem.2021.105026  Open Access |
| Image |  |
| Year | 2021 |
| Alt Series | Natural Resources Canada, Contribution Series 20190294 |
| Publisher | Elsevier |
| Document | serial |
| Lang. | English |
| Media | paper; on-line; digital |
| File format | pdf |
| Subjects | geochemistry; Science and Technology; x-ray fluorescence; sediments; sample preparation; grain size distribution; grain size analyses; Quaternary |
| Illustrations | tables; plots; flow charts |
| Program | Groundwater Geoscience Aquifer Assessment & support to mapping |
| Released | 2021 06 10 |
| Abstract | The modern geologist has a plethora of portable digital tools at their disposal including, GPS, in-field computers providing access to imagery, maps, and on site real time geochemistry provided by
portable X-ray fluorescence spectrometry (pXRF). This paper presents an analytical protocol for the examination of Quaternary glaciogenic sediments derived from different bedrock terrains using a portable spectrometer. The protocol outlines best
practices for the collection of geochemical data using pXRF from glacoiogenic sediments with generally continental crustal abundance elemental concentrations at a fraction of the cost of traditional laboratory methods. The analytical protocol
considers 1) sample preparation, 2) sample analysis, and 3) data cleaning, examination and presentation. The protocol takes into consideration pXRF fundamentals related to, instrument configuration, and an assessment of measurement parameters,
including peak overlaps, dwell time, instrument drift, in-situ versus processed samples, variable grain size and moisture content effects, and comparison to traditional laboratory methods. Protocol development occurred over a number of years and
analysis of over 4000 geological samples and ~9000 analysis of Certified and Standard Reference Materials. |
| Summary | (Plain Language Summary, not published)
An analytical protocol for determining the elemental chemistry of Quaternary glaciogenic sediments using a portable X-ray fluorescence spectrometer has
been developed using a suite of CRMs/SRMs and traditional laboratory methods. The protocol (Fig. 7) outlines how to collect high-quality data using the pXRF, at a fraction of the cost of traditional laboratory methods. The pXRF provides elemental
concentrations for 33 elements in Soil Mode and 41 elements in Mining Mode. This technology opens new frontiers in geochemical studies by providing rapid elemental analyses of unconsolidated surficial sediments. |
| GEOSCAN ID | 315471 |
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