X-ray microprobe for micro x-ray fluorescence and absorption spectroscopies at GSECARS

The hard x-ray microprobe for x-ray fluorescence and absorption spectroscopy at GeoSoilEnviroCARS is presented. Using focused synchrotron radiation from an undulator beamline at the Advanced Photon Source at Argonne National Lab, the x-ray microprobe provides bright, monochromatic x-rays with typical spot sizes down to 1x1 μm for x-ray fluorescence and absorption spectroscopies. Quantitative x-ray fluorescence (XRF) analysis gives precise elemental composition and correlations, while x-ray absorption spectroscopy (XAS) gives the chemical state and local atomic coordination for a selected atomic species. These two techniques can be used in conjunction with one another on a wide range of samples, including minerals, glasses, fluid inclusions, soils, sediments, and plant tissue. This x-ray microprobe is part of the GeoSoilEnviroCARS user facility, available for use in all areas geological, soil, and environmental sciences, and selected examples from these fields will be given.