Comparison of a coaxial Ge(Li) and a planar Ge detector in instrumental neutron activation analysis of geologic materials

Abstract

Instrumental neutron activation analysis was made on three different rock samples and on mineral separates of plagioclase, pyroxene and magnetite. γ-spectra were recorded using both a coaxial and a planar Ge detector. Counting errors were compared for those elements that could be determined with both detectors. In nearly all cases, analyses using the planar detector yielded smaller errors. The use of this detector in instrumental analysis is of particular advantage, where only contents of rare earth elements are to be determined.