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New opportunities in trace elements structural characterization: high-energy X-ray absorption near-edge structure
J Chaboy1, E Cotallo, S Quartieri
1Instituto de Ciencia de Materiales de Aragón and Departamento de Física de la Materia Condensada, CSIC-Universidad de Zaragoza, 50009 Zaragoza, Spain. jchaboy@posta.unizar.es
Journal of Synchrotron Radiation
|March 2, 2002
Summary
This study demonstrates a new method for analyzing trace rare-earth elements (REE) in garnets using X-ray absorption near-edge structure spectroscopy. This technique enables structural determination of REE at trace levels in natural geological samples.
Area of Science:
- Geochemistry
- Mineralogy
- Materials Science
Background:
- Garnets in lower crustal mafic and ultramafic rocks often contain trace concentrations of rare-earth elements (REE).
- Direct structural characterization of REE at trace levels in natural garnets is challenging due to limitations of conventional diffraction methods.
Purpose of the Study:
- To present the characterization of Neodymium (Nd) at trace levels in natural garnets.
- To demonstrate the capability of high-energy X-ray absorption near-edge structure spectroscopy (XANES) for REE trace structural determinations.
Main Methods:
- Utilized Nd K-edge X-ray absorption near-edge structure (XANES) spectroscopy.
- Analyzed natural garnet samples containing trace levels of Nd (176-1029 p.p.m.).
Main Results:
- Successfully characterized Nd at trace levels within natural garnet structures.
- Confirmed the capability of high-energy XANES for determining REE structure at trace concentrations.
Conclusions:
- High-energy XANES spectroscopy is a powerful tool for structural determination of trace REE in geological materials like garnets.
- This method overcomes limitations of conventional techniques for analyzing trace elements in minerals.