X-ray fluorescence analysis of trace elements in silicate rocks using fused glass discs

X-ray fluorescence analysis of twelve trace elements in silicate rocks (V, Cr, Co, Ni, Rb, Sr, Y, Zr, Nb, Ba, La, Ce) was carried out by using fused glass discs prepared by mixing 0.700 g of powder rock samples with 3.150 g of lithium tetraborate and 3.150 g of lithium metaborate. The method was calibrated using one hundred and twenty-one in-house rock standards and the accuracy was tested using sixteen international rock standards. The errors range from 3 to 10% for abundances ranging from 0 to 2300 ppm. Overall, the quality of the analytical data obtained by the proposed method is similar to that one obtained by processing powder pellets. Since the samples prepared through this technique allows the determination of major elements too, with a high degree of accuracy, the proposed methodology is characterized by an excellent ratio of analytical quality and operating time.