PIXE AND MICRO-PIXE ANALYSIS OF MINERALS AT EP=40 MEV

Proton-induced X-ray emission (PIXE) analyis has been employed at the University of Manitoba Accelerator Center in the analysis of apatite samples containing trace amounts of rare earth elements (REE). Detection limits of 5 ppm or better were readily achieved for elements such as La, Ce, Pr, Nd, Sm, Eu, Gd, Tb, Dy and Yb. Qualitative results of an analysis of Durango apatite were compared with the published results of other authors and found to be in general agreement. The relative ease with which results might be extracted from K x-ray data obtained for medium high Z elements studied at the energy of the Manitoba accelerator is contrasted with data reduction techniques employed at lower energy PIXE facilities.