The precision of XRF measurements on a Rigaku 3064 has been determined for 10 major and 12 trace elements in 10 geochemical reference rocks. A complete procedure for evaluating the sources of imprecision in XRF analyses is presented with new equations and data demonstrating that for many measurements a minute is an adequate count time for obtaining the minimum error (1% RSD) in an analysis. Longer analysis times were found to be limited by sample preparation errors, and for very long analysis times, the precision is predicted to get worse.
BuchananE. B.Jr., and TsaiFoo-Chong, Anal. Chem.46, 1701 (1974).
2.
PuppC., X-ray Spectr.6, 196 (1977).
3.
BairdA. K. and WeldayE. E., “Precision and Accuracy of Silicate Analyses by X-Ray Fluorescence,” in Advances in X-ray Analysis, (Plenum Press, New York, 1968), Vol. 11, pp. 114–128.
4.
IngleJ. D.Jr., Anal. Chem.46, 2161 (1974).
5.
BowerN. W. and IngleJ. D.Jr., Anal. Chem.48, 686 (1976).
6.
BowerN. W. and IngleJ. D.Jr., Anal. Chim. Acta105, 199 (1979).
7.
BowerN. W. and IngleJ. D.Jr., Appl. Spectrosc.35, 317 (1981).
SmithR. and JamesG. V., The Sampling of Bulk Materials, (Royal Society of Chemistry, London, 1981) Chap. 4.
10.
JenkinsR. and de VriesJ. L., Worked Examples in X-ray Analysis, (Springer-Verlag, New York, 1978), 2nd ed., p. 52.
11.
Le MaitreR. W., Numerical Petrology (Elsevier Publ. Co., New York, 1982), pp. 188–191.
12.
IngleJ. D.Jr., J. Chem. Ed.51, 100 (1974).
13.
AbbeyS., Geostandards Newsletter4, 163 (1980).
14.
GladneyE. S.BurnsC. E.PerrinD. R.RoelandtsI., and GillsT. E., 1982 Compilation of Elemental Concentration Data for NBS Biological, Geological, and Environmental Standard Reference Materials, NBS Special Publication 260–88, (U.S. Gov. Printing Office, Washington, DC, 1984).
15.
WhiteE. W. and JohnsonG. G.Jr., X-Ray Emission and Absorption Wavelengths and Two-Theta Tables, ASTM Data Series DS37A, (American Society for Testing and Materials, Philadelphia, PA, 1970), 2nd ed., p. 293.
16.
ClaisseF., “Accurate X-ray Fluorescence Analysis Without Internal Standard,” in Quebec Dept. Mines P. R.327 (1956).
17.
NorrishK. and HuttonJ. T., Geochim. Cosmochim. Acta33, 431 (1969).
18.
ThomasI. L. and HaukkaM. T., Chem. Geol.21, 39 (1978).
19.
LeeR. F. and McConchieD. M., X-ray Spectrom.11, 55 (1982).
20.
BowerN. W. and ValentineG., “A Critical Comparison of Sample Preparation Methods for XRF,” accepted by X-ray Spectrom.
21.
PottsP. J.WebbP. C., and WatsonJ. S., X-ray Spectrom.13, 2 (1984).
