GS 558: Electron Probe Microanalysis and Mineral Chemistry
Syllabus
Electron beam–specimen interactions and interaction volume. Generation of X-rays. Continuous and characteristic X-rays. Mosley’s law, Beer’s law and absorption edges. Wavelength dispersive spectrometry. X-ray diffraction and Bragg’s law. Measuring X-rays: gas proportional counter. X-ray peak shape and position. Selection of diffracting crystals, acceleration voltage and beam energy. Overlap corrections. Matrix (ZAF) corrections. Counting statistics and analytical uncertainty. Energy dispersive spectrometry.
EPMA data processing and geological applications. Crystal chemistry of rock-forming minerals including silicates, oxides and phosphates. Mineralogy rare earth elements, Nb and Ta. U–Th–total Pb dating of monazite. Stoichiometric formula calculation. Multivariant reactions and activity models for phases of petrologic importance. Geothermometry and geobarometry.
Texts/References
- Reed, S. J. B. Electron Probe Analysis and Scanning Electron Microscopy in Geology, Cambridge, 2010
- Goldstein, J. I., Newbury, D. E., Echlin, P., Joy, D. C., Lyman, C. E., Lifshin, E., Sawer, L. and Michael, J. R. Scanning Electron Microscopy and X-ray Microanalysis, Springer, 2003
- Kohn, M., Rakovan, J. and Hughes, J. M. (Eds.) Phosphates: Geochemical, Geobiological and Materials Importance, Reviews in Mineralogy & Geochemistry, v. 48, Mineralogical Society of America, 2002
- Spear, F.S. Metamorphic Phase Equilibria and Pressure–Temperature–Time Paths, Mineralogical Society of America, 1993
- Deer, W.A., Howie, R.A. and Zussman, J. An Introduction to the Rock-Forming Minerals, Longman Scientific & Technical, 1992