The proton microprobe: a revolution in mineral analysis

Abstract

Application of the proton microprobe as a quantitative tool for trace-element microanalysis in the geosciences can be considered to have crossed the threshold of acceptability in a number of areas, particularly in igneous and metamorphic mineralogy and petrology. In the minerals industry, applications in base metal ore mineralogy provide new data useful for both processing and genetic studies. Applications in diamond and gold exploration are developing into new methods, with potential widespread acceptance. The paper will review a few case histories, and discuss the limitations of the current state-of-art and conditions conducive to widespread acceptance by geoscientists and by the minerals ..