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Chemical Analysis of Iron Meteorites Using a Hand‐Held X‐Ray Fluorescence Spectrometer
Author(s) -
Gemelli Maurizio,
D'Orazio Massimo,
Folco Luigi
Publication year - 2015
Publication title -
geostandards and geoanalytical research
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.037
H-Index - 73
eISSN - 1751-908X
pISSN - 1639-4488
DOI - 10.1111/j.1751-908x.2014.00291.x
Subject(s) - meteorite , iron meteorite , phosphide , chemical composition , analytical chemistry (journal) , chemistry , materials science , mineralogy , metal , geology , astrobiology , metallurgy , physics , environmental chemistry , organic chemistry
We evaluate the performance of a hand‐held XRF ( HHXRF ) spectrometer for the bulk analysis of iron meteorites. Analytical precision and accuracy were tested on metal alloy certified reference materials and iron meteorites of known chemical composition. With minimal sample preparation (i.e., flat or roughly polished surfaces) HHXRF allowed the precise and accurate determination of most elements heavier than M g, with concentrations > 0.01% m/m in metal alloy CRM s, and of major elements F e and N i and minor elements C o, P and S (generally ranging from 0.1 to 1% m/m ) in iron meteorites. In addition, multiple HHXRF spot analyses could be used to determine the bulk chemical composition of iron meteorites, which are often characterised by sulfide and phosphide accessory minerals. In particular, it was possible to estimate the P and S bulk contents, which are of critical importance for the petrogenesis and evolution of F e‐ N i‐rich liquids and iron meteorites. This study thus validates HHXRF as a valuable tool for use in meteoritics, allowing the rapid, non‐destructive (a) identification of the extraterrestrial origin of metallic objects (i.e., archaeological artefacts); (b) preliminary chemical classification of iron meteorites; (c) identification of mislabelled/unlabelled specimens in museums and private collections and (d) bulk analysis of iron meteorites.