The major elements of mineral sands such as rutile and ilmenite vary widely in their concentrations. A method is developed with the use of thin-film samples and the total reflection x-ray fluorescence technique to obtain quantitative concentrations of such samples. The method was tested with the use of the GSJ (Geological Survey of Japan) rock reference JB-3, and agreement with quoted values was good. The advantages of the method are the simplicity of sample preparation, including easy removal of samples from the reflector; the low background contribution from the substrate; and the small quantity of the sample that is required.
