How does XRF (X-ray fluorescence) analysis work?
With XRF spectrometry, the specimen is bombarded with X-rays or high-energy electrons from a conventional X-ray tube located in the spectrometer. This causes a disturbance of the electron orbitals of atoms and the sample then emits secondary or fluorescent X-rays of wavelengths that are then detected with our spectrometer. The resultant spectra lines or peaks (see the figure below) are characteristic of the elements present in the specimen. The height of the peaks is directly proportional to the amount of each element – these are converted to quantitative parts per million figures by comparing them with rock standards of known chemical composition.
