On-site Geochemical Exploration Analysis by Vehicle-Loaded Energy Dispersive X-ray Fluorescence Spectrometer

The vehicle-loaded energy dispersive X-ray fluorescence(EDXRF) spectrometry instruments were utilized for on-site analysis of superstratum and bedrock samples from light drilling at drilling fields in Inner Mongolia and Xinjiang. About 400 drilling samples were collected, prepared and analyzed on-site. The on-site EDXRF data were assessed by comparing with in-lab data obtained from the same samples by wavelength dispersive X-ray fluorescence spectrometry instruments and ICP-MS. Good consistencies were found between on-site and laboratory analysis data (the average of the various methods) for K, Ca, Ti, V, Cr, Mn, Fe, Ni, Cu, Zn, Ga, As, Rb, Sr, Y, Zr, Nb, Ba, Pb and Th. As long as concentration levels exceeded 10 μg/g, average relative deviations better than 25% were achieved for all of the above-mentioned elements except for V and Ba. Smaller relative deviations were achieved with increasing elemental concentrations. On-site analysis data of the 18 above-mentioned elements in geological reference materials GBW 07301-GBW 07304 were in good accordance with the specification of testing quality management for geological laboratories (1∶200000), except for Cu and Ga which were low in concentrations. The applied research results show that the vehicle-loaded instrument works properly and the on-site analysis method is rapidity, accurate and suitable for field drilling and geochemical exploration.