X-RAY DIFFRACTION

X-ray diffraction is an essential tool for the rapid identification and quantification of minerals,compounds and other crystalline phases.

Industrial and environmental applications:

• Environmental - e.g. determination of quartz content of blasting sands.
  

• Geothermal and mining - speciation of clay minerals in drill core samples.

• Concrete and road aggregate industries - quality of raw materials.

• Cement industry - analysis of cements, clinkers, raw meal etc.

• Identification - of completely unknown crystalline materials.

XRD can be a useful ancilliary tool for the characterisation of a wide range of samples analysed by XRF e.g. whether Ca is present as calcite or aragonite or whether S is present as sulphate, sulphide or elemental sulphur.

Alternatively, XRF or other chemical data can be utilised in conjunction with XRD to assist in the quantification of mixed mineral or compound phases.