Name: synchrotron x-ray microdiffraction and fluorescence imaging of mineral and rock samples
Uploaded: 2018-06-19T15:00:00
Description: Watch this Scientific Journal Video about Synchrotron X-ray Microdiffraction and Fluorescence Imaging of Mineral and Rock Samples at JoVE.com

This research used resources of the Advanced Light Source, which is a DOE Office of Science User Facility under contract no. DE-AC02-05CH11231. We would also like to acknowledge Drs. L. Dobrzhinetskaya and E. O'Bannon for contributing the moissanite sample, C. Stewart for her olive snail shell data, H. Shen for preparing the olive snail shell, and G. Zhou and Prof. K. Chen for EDS measurements on the olive snail shell.

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.
<ol>
	<li>Mount the sample and close the experimental hutch.
	<ol>
		<li>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 w...

<ol>
	<li>Li, Y., et al. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=A+synchrotron+study+of+defect+and+strain+inhomogeneity+in+laser-assisted+three-dimensionally-printed+Ni-based+superalloy.">A synchrotron study of defect and strain inhomogeneity in laser-assisted three-dimensionally-printed Ni-based superalloy.</a> Applied Physics Letters. 107 (18), 181902 (2015).</li><li>Zhou, G., et al. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Real-time+microstructure+imaging+by+Laue+microdiffraction:+A+sample+application+in+laser+3D+printed+Ni-based+superalloys.">Real-time microstructure imaging by Laue microdiffraction: A sample application in laser 3D printed Ni-based superalloys.</a> Scientific Reports. 6, 28144 (2016).</li><li>Tippabhotla, S. K., et al. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Synchrotron+X-ray+Micro-diffraction+-+Probing+Stress+State+in+Encapsulated+Thin+Silicon+Solar+Cells.">Synchrotron X-ray Micro-diffraction - Probing Stress State in Encapsulated Thin Silicon Solar Cells.</a> Procedia Engineering. 139, 123-133 (2016).</li><li>Xu, C. Z., et al. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Elemental+Topological+Dirac+Semimetal:+&#945;-Sn+on+InSb(111)+.">Elemental Topological Dirac Semimetal: &#945;-Sn on InSb(111) .</a> Phys Rev Lett. 118 (14), 146402 (2017).</li><li>Chen, X., Tamura, N., MacDowell, A., James, R. D. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=In-situ+characterization+of+highly+reversible+phase+transformation+by+synchrotron+X-ray+Laue+microdiffraction.">In-situ characterization of highly reversible phase transformation by synchrotron X-ray Laue microdiffraction.</a> Appl Phys Lett. 108 (21), 211902 (2016).</li><li>Zhou, X., et al. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Reversal+in+the+Size+Dependence+of+Grain+Rotation.">Reversal in the Size Dependence of Grain Rotation.</a> Phys Rev Lett. 118 (9), 096101 (2017).</li><li>Stan, C. V., Beavers, C. M., Kunz, M., Tamura, N. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=X-Ray+Diffraction+under+Extreme+Conditions+at+the+Advanced+Light+Source.">X-Ray Diffraction under Extreme Conditions at the Advanced Light Source.</a> Quantum Beam Science. 2 (1), 4 (2018).</li><li>Chen, K., Kunz, M., Tamura, N., Wenk, H. R. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Residual+stress+preserved+in+quartz+from+the+San+Andreas+Fault+Observatory+at+Depth.">Residual stress preserved in quartz from the San Andreas Fault Observatory at Depth.</a> Geology. 43 (3), 219-222 (2015).</li><li>Chen, K., Kunz, M., Tamura, N., Wenk, H. R. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Evidence+for+high+stress+in+quartz+from+the+impact+site+of+Vredefort,+South+Africa.">Evidence for high stress in quartz from the impact site of Vredefort, South Africa.</a> Eur J Mineral. 23 (2), 169-178 (2011).</li><li>Jackson, M. D., et al. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Material+and+Elastic+Properties+of+Al-Tobermorite+in+Ancient+Roman+Seawater+Concrete.">Material and Elastic Properties of Al-Tobermorite in Ancient Roman Seawater Concrete.</a> J Am Ceram Soc. 96 (8), 2598-2606 (2013).</li><li>Jackson, M. D., et al. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Phillipsite+and+Al-tobermorite+mineral+cements+produced+through+low-temperature+water-rock+reactions+in+Roman+marine+concrete.">Phillipsite and Al-tobermorite mineral cements produced through low-temperature water-rock reactions in Roman marine concrete.</a> Am Mineral. 102 (7), 1435-1450 (2017).</li><li>Gilbert, P. U. P. A., et al. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Nacre+tablet+thickness+records+formation+temperature+in+modern+and+fossil+shells.">Nacre tablet thickness records formation temperature in modern and fossil shells.</a> Earth Planet Sc Lett. 460, 281-292 (2017).</li><li>Mass, T., et al. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Amorphous+calcium+carbonate+particles+form+coral+skeletons.">Amorphous calcium carbonate particles form coral skeletons.</a> P Natl Acad Sci. 114 (37), E7670-E7678 (2017).</li><li>Marcus, M. A., et al. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Parrotfish+Teeth:+Stiff+Biominerals+Whose+Microstructure+Makes+Them+Tough+and+Abrasion-Resistant+To+Bite+Stony+Corals.">Parrotfish Teeth: Stiff Biominerals Whose Microstructure Makes Them Tough and Abrasion-Resistant To Bite Stony Corals.</a> ACS Nano. 11 (12), 11856-11865 (2017).</li><li>Kunz, M., et al. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=A+dedicated+superbend+x-ray+microdiffraction+beamline+for+materials,+geo-,+and+environmental+sciences+at+the+advanced+light+source.">A dedicated superbend x-ray microdiffraction beamline for materials, geo-, and environmental sciences at the advanced light source.</a> Rev Sci Instrum. 80 (3), 035108 (2009).</li><li>Beckhoff, B., Kanngie&#223;er, B., Langhoff, N., Wedell, R., Wolff, H. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=.">.</a> Handbook of Practical X-Ray Fluorescence Analysis. , (2007).</li><li>Tamura, N. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=XMAS:+A+Versatile+Tool+for+Analyzing+Synchrotron+X-ray+Microdiffraction+Data.">XMAS: A Versatile Tool for Analyzing Synchrotron X-ray Microdiffraction Data.</a> Strain and Dislocation Gradients from Diffraction. , 125-155 (2014).</li><li>Dobrzhinetskaya, L., et al. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Moissanite+(SiC)+with+metal-silicide+and+silicon+inclusions+from+tuff+of+Israel:+Raman+spectroscopy+and+electron+microscope+studies.">Moissanite (SiC) with metal-silicide and silicon inclusions from tuff of Israel: Raman spectroscopy and electron microscope studies.</a> Lithos. , (2017).</li><li>Thibault, N. 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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...

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 deformation that the mineral may have been or is currently being subjected to (such as in the case of an in situ deformation experiment with a device like the diamond anvil cell). In geoscience, these analyses are often performed using a combination of scanning electron microscopy (SEM) with energy or wavelength dispersive x-ray spectroscopy (E/WDS) and electron backscatter diffraction (EBSD). However, sample preparation can be difficult, involving extensive polishing and mounting for vacuum measurements. Also, EBSD is a surface technique that requires relatively unstrained crystals, which is not always the case for geological materials which may have experienced uplift, erosion, or compression.
Spatially-resolved characterization using 2D x-ray microdiffraction and XRF mapping, as is available at beamline 12.3.2 of the ALS, is a fast and straightforward way of making large area maps of single or multiphase systems where the crystal size is on the scale of a few nanometers (in the case of polycrystalline samples) to hundreds of microns. This method has many advantages when compared to other commonly used techniques. Unlike other 2D crystal mapping techniques, such as EBSD, microdiffraction samples can be measured at ambient conditions, and thus do not require special preparation as there is no vacuum chamber. Microdiffraction is suitable for crystals that are pristine as well as those which have experienced severe strain or plastic deformation. Samples such as thin sections are commonly examined, as are materials embedded in epoxy, or even unaltered rocks or grains. Data collection is fast, usually less than 0.5 s/pixel for Laue diffraction, less than 1 min/pixel for powder diffraction, and less than 0.1 s/pixel for XRF. Data are stored locally, temporarily on a local storage, and more permanently at the National Energy Research Scientific Computing (NERSC) center, from which it is easy to download. Data processing for diffraction can be performed on a local cluster or on a NERSC cluster in under 20 min. This allows for fast throughput in data collection and analysis, and for large area measurements over a short period of time when compared to laboratory instruments.
This method has a wide variety of applications and has been used extensively, particularly in materials science and engineering, to analyze everything from 3D-printed metals1,2, to solar panel deformation3, to strain in topological materials4, to memory alloy phase transitions5, to the high-pressure behavior of nanocrystalline materials6,7. Recent geoscience projects include the analysis of strain in various quartz samples8,9 of volcanic cementitious processes10,11, and also of biominerals such as calcite and aragonite in shells and corals12,13 or apatite in teeth14, and additional studies on meteorite phase distribution, mineral structure identification of new minerals, and plastic deformation response in high-pressure silica have also been collected. The techniques used at beamline 12.3.2 are applicable to a broad range of samples, relevant to anyone in the mineralogical or petrological communities. Here we outline the data acquisition and analysis protocol for beamline 12.3.2, and present several applications in order to demonstrate the usefulness of the combined XRF and Laue/powder microdiffraction technique in the geoscience field.
Before going into experimental detail, it is germane to discuss the setup of the end-station (see Figure 1 and Figure 4 in Kunz et al.15). The x-ray beam exits the storage ring and is directed using a toroidal mirror (M201), the purpose of which is to refocus the source at the entrance of the experimental hutch. It passes through a set of roll slits which function as a secondary source point. It is then monochromatized (or not) depending on the experiment type, before passing through a second set of slits and being focused to micron sizes by a set of Kirkpatrick-Baez (KB) mirrors. The beam then passes through an ion chamber, whose signal is used to determine beam intensity. Attached to the ion chamber is a pinhole, which blocks scattered signal from impinging onto the detector. The focused beam then encounters the sample. The sample is placed on top of a stage, which consists of 8 motors: one set of rough (lower) x, y, z motors, one set of fine (upper) x, y, z motors, and two rotation motors (&#934; and &#967;). It can be visualized with three optical cameras: one with low zoom, placed at the top of the ion chamber, one with high zoom, placed in a plane at an approximately 45&#176; angle with respect to the x-ray beam, and a second high-zoom camera placed at a 90&#176; angle with respect to the x-ray beam. This last one works best for samples that are oriented vertically (such as for a transmission mode experiment), and imaging is performed using a wedge-shaped mirror attached to the pinhole. The x-ray diffraction detector is located on a large rotating stage, and both the angle and the vertical displacement of the detector can be controlled.&#160;A silicon drift detector to collect XRF is also present. Samples can be prepared in any manner, as long as the exposed region of interest (ROI) is flat (on the micron scale) and uncovered or covered in no more than ~50-100 &#181;m of x-ray transparent material such as polyimide tape.
The procedure outlined below describes an experiment that takes place in reflective geometry, and assumes the z direction is normal to the sample and x and y are the horizontal and vertical scanning directions, respectively. Because of the flexibility of the stage and detector system, however, some experiments are performed in transmission geometry, where the x and z directions are the horizontal and vertical scanning directions, while y is parallel to the direct beam (see Jackson et al.10,11).

<table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" width="784">
	<tbody>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;width:285px;">ThorLabs KB3x3 kinematic base, top half</td>
			<td style="width:213px;">ThorLabs</td>
			<td style="width:119px;">KBT3X3</td>
			<td style="width:167px;">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.</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;width:285px;">Scotch double sided tape</td>
			<td style="width:213px;"></td>
			<td style="width:119px;"></td>
			<td>Available at any office supply store, and also at the beamline</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;width:285px;">Polyimide/Kapton tape</td>
			<td style="width:213px;">Dupont</td>
			<td style="width:119px;"></td>
			<td>Several widths are commercially available. Any width that is enough to cover the sample is fine.</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;width:285px;">Samples</td>
			<td style="width:213px;"></td>
			<td style="width:119px;"></td>
			<td>Provided by user, site of interest should be polished if larger mapping is desired.</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;width:285px;">Software: XMAS</td>
			<td style="width:213px;"></td>
			<td style="width:119px;"></td>
			<td>Downloadable here https://sites.google.com/a/lbl.gov/bl12-3-2/user-resources</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;width:285px;">Software: IDL 6.2</td>
			<td style="width:213px;">Harris Geospatial Solutions</td>
			<td style="width:119px;"></td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;width:285px;">X-ray Diffraction Detector</td>
			<td>DECTRIS Pilatus 1M&#160;</td>
			<td style="width:119px;"></td>
			<td>hybrid pixel array detector</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;">Huber stage</td>
			<td style="width:213px;"></td>
			<td style="width:119px;"></td>
			<td>stage for detector</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;">Vortex silicon drift detector&#160;</td>
			<td style="width:213px;"></td>
			<td style="width:119px;"></td>
			<td>silicon drift detector</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;">IgorPro v. 6.37</td>
			<td style="width:213px;"></td>
			<td style="width:119px;"></td>
			<td>Plotting software</td>
		</tr>
	</tbody>
</table>

synchrotron x-ray microdiffraction and fluorescence imaging of mineral and rock samples

In this report, we describe a detailed procedure for acquiring and processing&#160;x-ray microfluorescence (&#956;XRF), 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.

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 (<stron...

Watch this Scientific Journal Video about Synchrotron X-ray Microdiffraction and Fluorescence Imaging of Mineral and Rock Samples at JoVE.com

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

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.

In this report, we describe a detailed procedure for acquiring and processing&#160;x-ray microfluorescence (&#956;XRF), and Laue and powder ...

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