I've seen some of your microprobe reports, and they are amazing. If I was still a kid I would be on my way to U of NM right now......but alas, I'll have to be satisfied with the reactor operators school here? and the countries largest research reactor....
Geo
----- Original Message -----
From: WILLIAM S Dubyk <sdubyk@...>
To:
[email protected]Sent: Tue, 17 Mar 2020 12:01:58 -0400 (EDT)
Subject: Re: [XRF] Parallel growth of columbite-(Fe) and samarskite-(Y)
Correct, George. While this type if analysis is not quantitative, you can get a good idea of what type of crystal(s) you are looking at. Microprobe analyses are quantitative, but require at least a small chunk of material for analysis. Attached is a picture
of a sample mount for the microprobe, it is about an inch across. We have worked up quite a few of these for analyses at UNM.
Steve
Interesting report Charles. Such an analysis would be difficult by other means without destroying all or part of the sample?
George?
----- Original Message -----
From: Charles David Young <charlesdavidyoung@...>
To:
[email protected], albinitony@...
Sent: Tue, 17 Mar 2020 09:44:54 -0400 (EDT)
Subject: [XRF] Parallel growth of columbite-(Fe) and samarskite-(Y)
I have an interesting specimen from the Spinelli Prospect in CT.? It is similar to other specimens reported from this locality.
Even though this appears to be one solid crystal there is a distinct difference from front to back.? The front is a subhedral columbite-Fe crystal with distinct faces.? The back not so much.? Along the edge there is a fracture that transitions from hackly
to conchoidal as it goes from columbite to samarskite.? Finally, my XRF of both sides shows that the columbite has no Y to speak of whereas the samarskite side has lots of it.
Many of my specimens are mixtures of minerals but usually not so distinct.
Charles
