12: X-ray Diffraction and Mineral Analysis
- Page ID
- 17521
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\(\newcommand{\avec}{\mathbf a}\) \(\newcommand{\bvec}{\mathbf b}\) \(\newcommand{\cvec}{\mathbf c}\) \(\newcommand{\dvec}{\mathbf d}\) \(\newcommand{\dtil}{\widetilde{\mathbf d}}\) \(\newcommand{\evec}{\mathbf e}\) \(\newcommand{\fvec}{\mathbf f}\) \(\newcommand{\nvec}{\mathbf n}\) \(\newcommand{\pvec}{\mathbf p}\) \(\newcommand{\qvec}{\mathbf q}\) \(\newcommand{\svec}{\mathbf s}\) \(\newcommand{\tvec}{\mathbf t}\) \(\newcommand{\uvec}{\mathbf u}\) \(\newcommand{\vvec}{\mathbf v}\) \(\newcommand{\wvec}{\mathbf w}\) \(\newcommand{\xvec}{\mathbf x}\) \(\newcommand{\yvec}{\mathbf y}\) \(\newcommand{\zvec}{\mathbf z}\) \(\newcommand{\rvec}{\mathbf r}\) \(\newcommand{\mvec}{\mathbf m}\) \(\newcommand{\zerovec}{\mathbf 0}\) \(\newcommand{\onevec}{\mathbf 1}\) \(\newcommand{\real}{\mathbb R}\) \(\newcommand{\twovec}[2]{\left[\begin{array}{r}#1 \\ #2 \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\ctwovec}[2]{\left[\begin{array}{c}#1 \\ #2 \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\threevec}[3]{\left[\begin{array}{r}#1 \\ #2 \\ #3 \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\cthreevec}[3]{\left[\begin{array}{c}#1 \\ #2 \\ #3 \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\fourvec}[4]{\left[\begin{array}{r}#1 \\ #2 \\ #3 \\ #4 \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\cfourvec}[4]{\left[\begin{array}{c}#1 \\ #2 \\ #3 \\ #4 \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\fivevec}[5]{\left[\begin{array}{r}#1 \\ #2 \\ #3 \\ #4 \\ #5 \\ \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\cfivevec}[5]{\left[\begin{array}{c}#1 \\ #2 \\ #3 \\ #4 \\ #5 \\ \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\mattwo}[4]{\left[\begin{array}{rr}#1 \amp #2 \\ #3 \amp #4 \\ \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\laspan}[1]{\text{Span}\{#1\}}\) \(\newcommand{\bcal}{\cal B}\) \(\newcommand{\ccal}{\cal C}\) \(\newcommand{\scal}{\cal S}\) \(\newcommand{\wcal}{\cal W}\) \(\newcommand{\ecal}{\cal E}\) \(\newcommand{\coords}[2]{\left\{#1\right\}_{#2}}\) \(\newcommand{\gray}[1]{\color{gray}{#1}}\) \(\newcommand{\lgray}[1]{\color{lightgray}{#1}}\) \(\newcommand{\rank}{\operatorname{rank}}\) \(\newcommand{\row}{\text{Row}}\) \(\newcommand{\col}{\text{Col}}\) \(\renewcommand{\row}{\text{Row}}\) \(\newcommand{\nul}{\text{Nul}}\) \(\newcommand{\var}{\text{Var}}\) \(\newcommand{\corr}{\text{corr}}\) \(\newcommand{\len}[1]{\left|#1\right|}\) \(\newcommand{\bbar}{\overline{\bvec}}\) \(\newcommand{\bhat}{\widehat{\bvec}}\) \(\newcommand{\bperp}{\bvec^\perp}\) \(\newcommand{\xhat}{\widehat{\xvec}}\) \(\newcommand{\vhat}{\widehat{\vvec}}\) \(\newcommand{\uhat}{\widehat{\uvec}}\) \(\newcommand{\what}{\widehat{\wvec}}\) \(\newcommand{\Sighat}{\widehat{\Sigma}}\) \(\newcommand{\lt}{<}\) \(\newcommand{\gt}{>}\) \(\newcommand{\amp}{&}\) \(\definecolor{fillinmathshade}{gray}{0.9}\)- X-radiation, discovered in 1895, was the key to understanding atomic arrangements in crystals.
- X-rays may have many different wavelengths but for diffraction studies we isolate one.
- When X-rays interact with atoms, the rays are scattered in all directions; coherent scattering by multiple atoms produces X-ray diffraction.
- Directions of diffraction tell us the spacings between planes of atoms in a crystal; intensities of diffraction tell us the number of atoms on those planes.
- We use a powdered sample for routine mineral identification.
- Compositional variations cause slight variations in X-ray patterns.
- Single crystal diffraction data allow crystallographers to figure out where atoms are in a unit cell.
- Scanning electron microscopes allow high-magnification imaging of mineral crystals and of thin sections.
- Electron microprobe data yield mineral compositions based on X-ray intensities.
- Other important analytical techniques include X-ray fluorescence, atomic absorption, inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry, ion microprobe, Mössbauer spectroscopy, visible and infrared spectroscopy, and Raman spectroscopy.
- 12.1: X-ray Diffraction
- 12.1.1: Intensity of Diffraction
- 12.1.2: Intensity of Diffraction- Halite
- 12.1.3: X-ray Patterns, Symmetry and Mineral Identification
- 12.1.4: Extinctions
- 12.1.5: Indexing Patterns and Determining Cell Parameters
- 12.1.6: Uncertainties
- 12.1.7: Single Crystal Diffraction
- 12.1.8: The Discovery of X-rays and Diffraction
- 12.1.9: What are X-rays?
- 12.1.10: Interactions of X-Rays and Atoms
- 12.1.11: Interference of X-Ray Waves
- 12.1.12: Diffraction by a Row of Atoms
- 12.1.13: Diffraction by Planes of Atoms
- 12.1.14: Routine X-Ray Analysis- Powder Diffraction
- 12.1.15: Data and Processing
- 12.1.16: Effects of Different X-ray Wavelengths
Thumbnail: An X-ray diffraction pattern of a crystallized enzyme. The pattern of spots (reflections) and the relative strength of each spot (intensities) can be used to determine the structure of the enzyme. CC BY-SA 3.0; Jeff Dahl via Wikipedia)