A Quantitative X-Ray Diffraction Technique Applied to Fine-Grained Sediments of the Deep Gulf of Mexico

Abstract

ABSTRACT The application of a quantitative X-ray diffraction technique developed by Moore (1968) enables the mineralogical analysis of fine-grained sediments with fewer errors due to sample preparation and conditions of analysis. The computation of linear interaction coefficients reduces the possibility that the change in the weight percent of one mineral will cause unreal variations in the abundances of others. The main advantage of the technique is that the use of peak intensity ratios modified by experimentally determined coefficients of interaction help eliminate differences between samples produced by the method of calculation. Comparison of the results of X-ray analyses of bulk sediments and size-fractionated ones from the surficial sediments of the deep Gulf of Mexico illustrate the tec nique.