Journal article
Quantified, multi-scale X-ray fluorescence element mapping using the Maia detector array: application to mineral deposit studies
Louise A Fisher, Denis Fougerouse, James S Cleverley, Christopher G Ryan, Steven Micklethwaite, Angela Halfpenny, Robert M Hough, Mary Gee, David Paterson, Daryl L Howard, Kathryn Spiers
MINERALIUM DEPOSITA | SPRINGER | Published : 2015
Abstract
The Maia large solid-angle detector array and imaging system is capable of collecting high-resolution images of up to ∼100 M pixels in size with dwell times of less than 0.2 ms per pixel and thus it is possible to document variation in textures associated with trace element chemistry by collecting quantified elemental maps of geological samples on the scale of entire thin sections in a short time frame (6–8 hr). The analysis is nondestructive and allows variation to be recognised on a centimetre scale while also recognising zonations at the micron scale. Studies of ore systems require microanalysis of samples to collect information on mineral chemistry in order to understand physiochemical c..
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Awarded by WAXI stage-2 AMIRA project
Awarded by ARC
Funding Acknowledgements
This research was undertaken on the X-ray fluorescence microscopy beamline at the Australian Synchrotron, Victoria, Australia. The data presented in this paper were collected as part of run 6666 (Obuasi), 6189 and 4898 (Sunrise Dam) at XFM. Martin de Jonge (XFM beamline scientist) developed scan software and scripts that supported data collection. Micklethwaite and Fougerouse wish to gratefully acknowledge the support of the WAXI stage-2 AMIRA project (P934A) and an ARC linkage grant LP110100667. The Obuasi data forms part of Fougerouse's PhD work which is supported by AngloGold Ashanti. The authors thank Steve Barnes and Belinda Godel for their constructive comments on a draft of this manuscript. We thank Rolf Romer and an anonymous reviewer for their constructive reviews of this manuscript. This research is supported by the Science and Industry Endowment Fund.