2007 Volume 5 Pages 1-12
Easy and quick analytical techniques of X-ray fluorescence spectrometry for carbonate rocks were investigated. The analyzed elements are SiO2, TiO2, Al2O3, total Fe2O3, MnO, MgO, CaO, Na2O, K2O, P2O5, Sc, V, Cr, Ni, Cu, Zn, Rb, Sr, Y, Zr, Nb, Ba, La, Ce, Nd and Pb. These elements were determined on a single glass bead made of a mixture of 1.2 g of sample powder without prior calcination, 6 g of Li2B4O7 flux and about 35 mg of LiI releasing agent. Synthetic standard samples for calibration of a spectrometer were prepared from pure chemical reagents and were fused to glass beads likewise. Although loss on ignition during the fusion resulted in deviation of the flux/sample ratio of these glass beads, reliable calibration lines were obtained by theoretical corrections for matrix effects, flux/sample ratio and spectral line-overlap based on a fundamental parameter approach. Analytical results of GSJ geochemical reference samples were in good agreement with the recommended values and showed sufficient precision and sensitivity.