Semi-quantitative Energy Dispersive X-ray Fluorescence (ED-XRF) is applied to perform routine, non-destructive chemical analyses. The sample is irradiated with X-rays. These are partially absorbed in the crystal lattice producing characteristic secondary radiation spectra. These spectra are converted into quantitative concentration values. Although detection limits are rather high and thus limit the number of elements that can be measured, ED-XRF analyses have proven very useful for origin determination.
We use a Spectrace QuanX EC spectrometer in our laboratory in Lucerne and a Helmut Fischer XRAY XAN-DPP-SP397 as a mobile instrument for Off-Premise Testing. Both instruments use special sets of parameters optimised for the analysis of specific minerals (e.g. corundum, beryl, chrysoberyl, tourmaline) with up to six excitation voltage steps from 5-30 kilovolts, lifetimes of 200-300 seconds and various filter types.
