Application of neutron diffraction methods to texture studies on natural rock salt

Abstract

AbstractThe changes for successful texture studies using neutron diffraction on coarse‐grained natural rock salt are tested. The advantages of neutron diffraction for texture investigations of geological materials have been demonstrated and the process of specimen preparation is shortly described. For texture studies conventional angle dispersive neutron diffraction has been applied. Complete pole figures were measured using the spherical sample method and a combination of transmission and reflection geometry in diffraction experiments for rock salt slabs. Due to the small number of crystallites within the irradiated specimen volume composite pole figures had to be scanned using two or three single experiments. The initial material for our studies is natural rock salt from Zielitz mine (near Magdeburg, GDR). Pole figures were measured for the (200), (220), and (222) reflections of NaCl. The crystallographic texture of all samples investigated is weak. In general (100) fibre textures were found.