The nuclear microprobe as a probe of earth structure and geological processes

Abstract

The nuclear microprobe is ideally suited to the microanalysis of geological samples where trace element quantitative microanalysis and imaging are essential. The use of these methods, particularly proton-induced X-ray emission (PIXE), is becoming more common in many areas of geology as the impact of trace element data become more widely appreciated. This review provides an update on the progress of geological applications of the nuclear microprobe since these were reviewed at the previous conference on Nuclear Microprobe Technology and Applications in 1992. But more importantly, the applications described in more detail in this paper are chosen to illustrate the impact nuclear microprobe met..