Quantitative PIXE trace element imaging of minerals using the new CSIRO-GEMOC Nuclear Microprobe

Abstract

The design of the new CSIRO-GEMOC Nuclear Microprobe for high sensitivity imaging of mineral samples, combined with a new GeoPIXE software environment, incorporating the dynamic analysis (DA) method for projecting quantitative PIXE trace element images, yields quantitative PIXE images at 1.8 μm spatial resolution with detection limits in silicates for extracted concentrations down to ∼0.2 ppm (Br). Detection limits (99% confidence level) down to 39 ppb (Ge) have been achieved in diamond. Advances in PIXE technique include the correction of DA images for the effects on PIXE yields of spatial variation of sample composition, interactive software tools for DA projection and concentration extrac..