Nanoscopic X-ray fluorescence imaging of meteoritic particles and diamond inclusions.
The new ESRF ID16B-NA Nanoanalysis beamline has been applied for the first time for XRF imaging with a resolution level down to a few tens of nanometers on rare geological materials: meteoritic fragments from achondrite NWA 6693 and diamond inclusions. The instrument proved to be an extremely valuable tool for mapping samples containing submicrometer heterogeneities. It was discovered that the track of bubblelike inclusions in NWA 6693 consists mainly of Cr-rich phases. Some inclusions containing Ni and Ca were also detected. In diamond SL05, originating from the Juina region in Brazil, multiple inclusions were analyzed with dimensions smaller than 1 μm. Raman spectrometry measurements indicated the presence of a ringwoodite inclusion in this diamond; the detection of several iron-rich inclusions justifies further investigation of this material.
X-ray Microspectroscopy and Imaging Group (XMI), Ghent University , Krijgslaan 281 S12, B-9000 Ghent, Belgium.
Brecht
B
Laforce
Sylvia
S
Schmitz
Bart
B
Vekemans
Jennifer
J
Rudloff
Jan
J
Garrevoet
Remi
R
Tucoulou
Frank E
FE
Brenker
Gema
G
Martinez-Criado
Laszlo
L
Vincze