Comparison and correction of element measurements using qualitative and quantitative X-ray fluorescence in lacustrine sediments: A case study of Lake Hurleg

Abstract

Using an X-ray Fluorescence (XRF) core scanner with nondestructive and successive, the chemistry features of lacustrine sediment can be measured directly. This method of XRF core scanner measurements has been widely applied to core sediment analysis but uncertain of the precision and accuracy. Comparison of intensities obtained by XRF core scanning and the concentration measured by conventional X-ray Fluorescence, indicates effects of physical properties varied from different elements on elemental intensities in the lacustrine sediments of a core from Lake Hurleg in the northeastern Tibetan Plateau. Correlation among elements Ti and Sr between the two measurement methods of the XRF and the conventional XRF is high. Using the intensity of Cl as an indicator of water content, the element intensities of Ti and Sr in the core samples is corrected. But the correlation coefficients of Ti and Sr is litter raised. The results show that XRF core scanning is a very useful tool for measuring element concentration in sediments particularly for high intensities elements.