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$X-ray Diffraction of Biological Samples$ 01:10

X-ray Diffraction of Biological Samples

X-ray diffraction or XRD is an analytical tool that utilizes X-rays to study ordered structures such as crystalline organic and inorganic samples, polycrystalline materials, proteins, carbohydrates, and drugs.
According to Bragg's law, when X-rays strike the sample positioned on a stage, the rays are scattered by the electron clouds around the sample atoms. The X-ray diffraction or scattering is caused by constructive interference of the X-ray waves that reflect off the internal...

X-ray Crystallography

X-ray Crystallography

The size of the unit cell and the arrangement of atoms in a crystal may be determined from measurements of the diffraction of X-rays by the crystal, termed X-ray crystallography.
Diffraction
Diffraction is the change in the direction of travel experienced by an electromagnetic wave when it encounters a physical barrier whose dimensions are comparable to those of the wavelength of the light. X-rays are electromagnetic radiation with wavelengths about as long as the distance between neighboring...

Determination of Crystal Structures

Determination of Crystal Structures

In the late 1800s, the revelation that light extended beyond visible wavelengths led to the discovery of X-rays by Wilhelm Roentgen. Recognized as high-energy electromagnetic radiation with short wavelengths, X-rays prompted exploration into their interaction with crystals. Max von Laue proposed in 1912 that the periodic arrangement of atoms, ions, or molecules in crystals would cause them to diffract X-rays, a hypothesis confirmed through experiments with copper sulfate and zinc sulfide...

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Related Experiment Video

Updated: Apr 19, 2026

$Synchrotron X-ray Microdiffraction and Fluorescence Imaging of Mineral and Rock Samples$

Synchrotron X-ray Microdiffraction and Fluorescence Imaging of Mineral and Rock Samples

Published on: June 19, 2018

The first X-ray diffraction measurements on Mars.

David Bish¹, David Blake², David Vaniman³

¹Geological Sciences, Indiana University, 1001 E. 10th Street, Bloomington, IN 47405, USA.

|December 9, 2014

Summary

This summary is machine-generated.

The Curiosity rover

Keywords:

Curiosity rover Mars X-ray diffraction extraterrestrial mineralogy

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$Synchrotron X-ray Microdiffraction and Fluorescence Imaging of Mineral and Rock Samples$

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$Microfluidic Chips for In Situ Crystal X-ray Diffraction and In Situ Dynamic Light Scattering for Serial Crystallography$

Microfluidic Chips for In Situ Crystal X-ray Diffraction and In Situ Dynamic Light Scattering for Serial Crystallography

Published on: April 24, 2018

Area of Science:

Planetary Science
Geology
Mineralogy

Background:

The Mars Science Laboratory mission utilizes the Curiosity rover to explore Gale crater and Mount Sharp.
The Chemistry and Mineralogy (CheMin) instrument is key for analyzing Martian geological samples.

Purpose of the Study:

To analyze the mineralogy and chemical composition of Martian rock and soil samples using the CheMin instrument.
To investigate evidence of past aqueous alteration in Gale crater's sedimentary rocks.

Main Methods:

Utilized the CheMin instrument, a miniaturized X-ray diffraction/X-ray fluorescence (XRD/XRF) system.
Performed Rietveld and full-pattern analysis on XRD data from soil, mudstone, and sandstone samples.
Employed onboard standards for instrument calibration.

Main Results:

Revealed complex mineralogy in analyzed samples, including contributions from igneous rocks, amorphous materials, and aqueous alteration.
Identified phyllosilicates in mudstone samples, indicating alteration by liquid water.
Obtained quantitative mineralogy and unit-cell parameters for major phases.

Conclusions:

Martian mudstones in Gale crater show evidence of formation in the presence of liquid water.
CheMin's analysis provides detailed insights into Mars' geological history and water-rock interactions.
Rietveld refinements allow for inference of mineral and amorphous component chemical compositions.