Synchrotron X-ray Microdiffraction and Fluorescence Imaging of Mineral and Rock Samples

Summary

We describe a beamline setup meant to carry out rapid two-dimensional x-ray fluorescence and x-ray microdiffraction mapping of single crystal or powder samples using either Laue (polychromatic radiation) or powder (monochromatic radiation) diffraction. The resulting maps give information about strain, orientation, phase distribution, and plastic deformation.

Abstract

In this report, we describe a detailed procedure for acquiring and processing x-ray microfluorescence (μXRF), and Laue and powder microdiffraction two-dimensional (2D) maps at beamline 12.3.2 of the Advanced Light Source (ALS), Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory. Measurements can be performed on any sample that is less than 10 cm x 10 cm x 5 cm, with a flat exposed surface. The experimental geometry is calibrated using standard materials (elemental standards for XRF, and crystalline samples such as Si, quartz, or Al₂O₃ for diffraction). Samples are aligned to the focal point of the x-ray microbeam, and raster scans are performed, where each pixel of a map corresponds to one measurement, e.g., one XRF spectrum or one diffraction pattern. The data are then processed using the in-house developed software XMAS, which outputs text files, where each row corresponds to a pixel position. Representative data from moissanite and an olive snail shell are presented to demonstrate data quality, collection, and analysis strategies.

Introduction

Crystalline samples frequently display heterogeneity on the micron scale. In geoscience, the identification of minerals, their crystal structure, and their phase relations in 2D systems is important for understanding both the physics and chemistry of a particular system, and requires a spatially-resolved, quantitative technique. For example, relationships between minerals can be examined based on the phase distribution within a localized 2D region. This can have implications for the history and chemical interaction that may have occurred within a rocky body. Alternatively, the material structure of a single mineral can be examined; this may determine the types of defo....

Protocol

1. Set Up Beamline and Collect Data

NOTE: Calibration standards and samples are collected in the same manner, with the main difference lying in the processing method.

1. Mount the sample and close the experimental hutch.
   1. Attach a sample to the top half of a kinematic base (see Table of Materials) such that the ROI is vertically displaced relative to the base by at least 15 mm.
      NOTE: A standard block exists at the beamline for use with samples < 20 mm thick. The bottom half of the kinematic base is permanently installed on the stage system of the beamline.
   2. Place th....

Results

Laue Microdiffraction

A recent measurement and analysis was performed on a natural moissanite (SiC) sample¹⁸. The sample consisted of a piece of tuff embedded in an epoxy plug, which was then cut and polished to expose the ROI. Three moissanite grains were identified using optical microscopy and Raman spectroscopy (Figure 1a). One of the grains, SiC 2 (

Discussion

We present a method for combined x-ray diffraction and XRF analysis of crystalline samples at ALS beamline 12.3.2. While neither Laue diffraction, powder diffraction, nor XRF themselves are novel methods, beamline 12.3.2 combines them as well as a micron-scale x-ray beam size, a scanning stage system that is correlated to detector exposure triggers, and a comprehensive analysis software to allow for experiments that would not be possible on laboratory instruments. Photon flux at the beamline is several orders of magnitud.......

Materials

List of materials used in this article

Name	Company	Catalog Number	Comments
ThorLabs KB3x3 kinematic base, top half	ThorLabs	KBT3X3	Several of these bases are available for borrowing. The base must be the imperial and not the metric type, otherwise it will not properly fit on the stage.
Scotch double sided tape			Available at any office supply store, and also at the beamline
Polyimide/Kapton tape	Dupont		Several widths are commercially available. Any width that is enough to cover the sample is fine.
Samples			Provided by user, site of interest should be polished if larger mapping is desired.
Software: XMAS			Downloadable here https://sites.google.com/a/lbl.gov/bl12-3-2/user-resources
Software: IDL 6.2	Harris Geospatial Solutions
X-ray Diffraction Detector	DECTRIS Pilatus 1M		hybrid pixel array detector
Huber stage			stage for detector
Vortex silicon drift detector			silicon drift detector
IgorPro v. 6.37			Plotting software