Wavelength-dispersive x-ray fluorescence spectrometric determination of tantalum in columbite-tantalite using TaKα and an LiF 420 analysing crystal

Abstract

The paper proposes a simple, accurate, precise, and rapid method for determining the high atomic number (Z) major-element, tantalum (Z = 73), in the rare mineral, columbite [(Fe,Mn) (Nb,Ta)2O6] — tantalite [(Fe,Mn) (Ta,Nb)2O6], by wavelength-dispersive x-ray fluorescence spectrometry (WDXRFS). The other major-element in columbite-tantalite is the lower atomic number niobium (Z = 41). The method uses the characteristic radiation, TaKα, and an LiF 420 analysing crystal, to overcome the problems associated with the serious x-ray spectral-line interference of the secondorder NbKα and NbKβ with the first-order TaLα1 and TaLβ1 respectively.