Rapid X-ray fluorescence analysis as a modern alternative to traditional spectral methods in geochemical prospecting

Abstract

The purpose of the study is to present the research results of the capabilities of modern portable rapid X-ray fluorescence analyzers when solving problems of geological and geochemical prospecting. On example of the applied SciAps X200 analyzer, the metrological indicators for the analysis results by portable instruments have been studied. The accuracy assessment results of analytical studies according to state standard reference samples are shown. Reproducibility of the analysis results is calculated on the basis of samples from promising gold sites of the Bodaibo synclinorium. The method is proved to be of high precision, and measurement errors in many cases are many times lower than the permissible certified values. The reproducibility is shown as 0,5–20 % depending on the element, which in most cases is significantly lower than the methodology permits. The results of interlaboratory comparative tests confirming the comparability of the analytical results of stationary and portable X-ray fluorescence analyzers are presented. For a number of significant elements, the authors have substantiated the lack of need to refine the results of the field rapid X-ray fluorescence analysis using labor-intensive and expensive methods with acid decomposition - atomic emission and atomic absorption spectroscopy. It has been proved that introduction of portable express equipment into geological prospecting works will make it possible to conduct real-time “on site” analytical studies.