QUANTITATIVE SEM-EDS ANALYSIS OF REFERENCE SILICATE MINERAL AND GLASS SAMPLES

Quantitative SEM-EDS analysis of reference silicate mineral and glass samples. SEM-EDS microanalysis is an accurate technique for quantitative microchemical X-ray analyses of geological samples. The aim of this study was to set up the procedure for the determination of major, minor and volatile elements (Si, Al, Ti, Mg, Fe, Ni, Mn, Na, Ca, K, Ba, P, B, Cl, S, F) in reference silicate mineral and glass samples, by using the new SEM-EDS ThermoFisher® Quanta 400 Forensic with Pathfinder microanalysis installed at the Earth Sciences Department, University of Pisa. The obtained precision and accuracy are acceptable for many mineralogical, petrographic and geological purposes.