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- Bruker Tracer 5 portable XRF (pXRF) with 5 application calibrations (and associated reference check samples):
- GeoExploration (CS-M2, Geo/Soil sample)
- Limestone (Limestone square)
- Mudrock (Air) (Mudrock square)
- Mudrock (He) (Mudrock square)
- Precious Metals 2 (Silver disk)
- Color touch screen
- AC power adaptor
- 3 Lithium ion batteries and battery charger
- 3mm and 8mm collimators
- Filters for Cu, 200µm/Ti, 25µm/Al, 300µm (black) and Al, 76µm (orange)
- Prolene exam windows
- Holding stand (IODP 3D Printed)
Accessories
- Desktop stand
- Benchtop stand
- Small stage with leaded cup shield
- Shielded holder for section half measurements (IODP 3D Printed)
- Section half brackets with ruler bracket
- Background plate
- Small scissor platform
- Remote trigger cable
- Thermometer/Clock/Humidity Monitor
Computer & Software
- Laptop (RF 52534 or IL-53409-XRF)
- Bruker RemoteCTRL (mirrors device screen)
- Bruker Instrument Tools (data management)
- Artax Spectra (for data processing)
- All-in-one Filehub
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The pXRF should be set up in a location that is isolated with out of the way with minimal people working nearby, but that is also be easily accessible with sufficient space to scan section halves. This should be done without disrupting other workstations or without danger of dropping or mishandling section halves or core material. Typical locations have been the Downhole Lab bench, Paleo Lab bench or Correlators' station, if they are not sailing. Consult with the scientists, co-chiefs, and Lab Officer/Assistant Lab Officers for a preferred location for each expedition. Once set up and it has been established which scientists will be trained to use the device (usually two scientists per shift), dosimeter rings will be issued to each person that will be operating the device and the training technician. Each dosimeter ring has a unique ID and is assigned to a specific person.
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Note: The batteries cannot be 'hot swapped'. If a battery is running low, either shut off the Tracer, switch batteries and power it back on again, or plug the AC power in, change the battery, and then unplug the device again.
Application and Settings
The current application can be changed by selecting 
, choosing a different application type and selecting ‘OK’. This device has 5 applications installed (See Appendix for details). The best application for our purposes is GeoExploration. Each application has different scanning parameters which preferentially pick up some elements better than others. The device will keep the chosen application until manually changed.
Some application settings, such as beam scan duration, can be adjusted by selecting 
on the main display screen. Three settings can be adjusted (Fig. XX):
Sample Preparation
Preparing section halves
Preparing powdered samples
Sample Measurement Set Up
Shielded holder for section halves
Desktop stand
Benchtop Chamber
Instrument Set Up
Begin by installing a fully charged battery or powering the device using an AC power adaptor. The Tracer 5 can be operated alone or connected to a laptop. Using Bruker RemoteCTRL 
, the device screen is mirrored on the laptop. They type of sample you are measuring or your chosen measurement set up.
Computer connection
Application and Settings
The current application can be changed by selecting , choosing a different application type and selecting ‘OK’. This device has 5 applications installed (See Appendix for details). The best application for our purposes is GeoExploration. Each application has different scanning parameters which preferentially pick up some elements better than others. The device will keep the chosen application until manually changed.
Some application settings, such as beam scan duration, can be adjusted by selecting on the main display screen. Three settings can be adjusted (Fig. 1):
- Duration: This screen will display the number of phases used by the current application. The time Duration: This screen will display the number of phases used by the current application. The time in seconds spent on each phase can be adjusted or set to unlimited (ending when the trigger is released). Note: The longer the scan time, the greater the accuracy and precision and the lower the error. For geological samples, 1 minute per phase or longer is not uncommon, but not required.
- First Result/Test: This is the number of seconds before results will be shown on the display once a measurement has been triggered.
- Trigger Active: The trigger can be set to ‘Auto’ or ‘Manual’ by selecting this button.
- Auto: The measurement proceeds by pressing and releasing the trigger. Preferred.
- Manual: The trigger must be pressed for the duration of the measurement. If the trigger is released at any time during the measurement, measuring will stop.
Figure XX. Settings display screen.
Select ‘Ok’ when finished adjusting or 'Cancel' to return to the previous screen.
Making a Measurement
Edit Sample Information
On the main display, click the ‘Edit Info’ button in the middle of the bottom row of buttons. This screen (Figure 4) is where the sample information is entered. All fields in the right column are editable by double clicking and should be reviewed and changed for each sample:
- Sample Type:
- Standard – a powdered standard in a sample cup
- SHLF – a measurement taken directly on a section half or of a piece from a section half
- PWDR – a powdered sample in a sample cup
- Discrete – for any other samples
- Expedition: The current expedition, example 397.
- Site and Hole: The site and hole the sample was taken from, example: U1586A.
- Core/Section: The core number with letter indicating the core type and the section in that core that is being measured or that the sample was taken from, example: 1H/6. If measuring a standard, enter the standard name, example: BCR 2 or BHVO 2.
- TextID: The unique sample number for every sample. This is found on the lower right corner of the typical sample label, example: SHLF11754181. Note: If the device is connected to the laptop and using Bruker RemoteCtrl software, use the scanner to enter the TextID. If measuring a standard, use the information from the appropriate QAQC label provided. If a standard does not have a QAQC label, leave this field blank.
- Top Offset (cm):
- For a section half or sample from a section half (discrete, unaltered piece), this is the distance from the top of the core section, example: 34 or 101.5 (Do not put a range, just the beginning number of the measured area or sample).
- For powdered samples and standards, use 0.
- Comment: Use this to provide any additional information, such as a physical description for reference or to indicate a replicate measurement.
Figure 5. The Edit Info display screen.
Select 'OK' in the lower left corner of the screen. The display will return to the main display screen.
Execute a Scan
There are 2 ways to initiate a scan:
If the device is connected to the laptop 
select ‘Trigger Pull (F6)’ along the top of the RemoteCtrl program window or press F6. The measurement will begin and continue until finished. Note: If the device is moved away from the sample, the measurement will stop!
If you are not connected the laptop press the device to the sample, the proximity sensor will detect a sample and the device will be armed for measurement. Press and release the trigger. The measurement will begin and continue until finished. Note: If the device is moved away from the sample, the measurement will stop!
- is released). Note: The longer the scan time, the greater the accuracy and precision and the lower the error. For geological samples, 1 minute per phase or longer is not uncommon, but not required.
- First Result/Test: This is the number of seconds before results will be shown on the display once a measurement has been triggered.
- Trigger Active: The trigger can be set to ‘Auto’ or ‘Manual’ by selecting this button.
- Auto: The measurement proceeds by pressing and releasing the trigger. Preferred.
- Manual: The trigger must be pressed for the duration of the measurement. If the trigger is released at any time during the measurement, measuring will stop.
Figure 1. Settings display screen.
Select ‘Ok’ when finished adjusting or 'Cancel' to return to the previous screen.
Making a Measurement
Edit Sample Information
On the main display, click the ‘Edit Info’ button in the middle of the bottom row of buttons. This screen (Figure 4) is where the sample information is entered. All fields in the right column are editable by double clicking and should be reviewed and changed for each sample:
- Sample Type:
- Standard – a powdered standard in a sample cup
- SHLF – a measurement taken directly on a section half or of a piece from a section half
- Sample – a powdered sample in a sample cup
- Discrete – for any other samples
- Expedition: The current expedition, example 397.
- Site and Hole: The site and hole the sample was taken from, example: U1586A.
- Core/Section: The core number with letter indicating the core type and the section in that core that is being measured or that the sample was taken from, example: 1H/6. If measuring a standard, enter the standard name, example: BCR 2 or BHVO 2.
- TextID: The unique sample number for every sample. This is found on the lower right corner of the typical sample label, example: SHLF11754181. Note: If the device is connected to the laptop and using Bruker RemoteCtrl software, use the scanner to enter the TextID. If measuring a standard, use the information from the appropriate QAQC label provided. If a standard does not have a QAQC label, leave this field blank.
- Top Offset (cm):
- For a section half or sample from a section half (discrete, unaltered piece), this is the distance from the top of the core section, example: 34 or 101.5 (Do not put a range, just the beginning number of the measured area or sample).
- For powdered samples and standards, use 0.
- Comment: Use this to provide any additional information, such as a physical description for reference or to indicate a replicate measurement.
Figure 5. The Edit Info display screen.
Select 'OK' in the lower left corner of the screen. The display will return to the main display screen. Once a measurement is complete, if you edit any sample information, the sample run number will advance.
Execute a Scan
There are 2 ways to initiate a scan:
If the device is connected to the laptop select ‘Trigger Pull (F6)’ along the top of the RemoteCtrl program window or press F6. The measurement will begin and continue until finished. Note: If the device is moved away from the sample, the measurement will stop!
If you are not connected the laptop press the device to the sample, the proximity sensor will detect a sample and the device will be armed for measurement. Press and release the trigger. The measurement will begin and continue until finished. Note: If the device is moved away from the sample, the measurement will stop!
A beep will sound when the device has finished measuring and the device can be moved away from the sample or repositioned for the next measurement. At this point, the previous measurement’s data has been stored and added to the results file.
The Tracer updates the ‘Data’ folder after each new measurement with an associated .pdz file and also adds the data to the appropriate application .tsv file and .csv ‘Results’ file. Highlight the files you want to download and then select the ‘Download’ option in the toolbar of the program window. A smaller window will appear and here you can select the location you wish to download the files to. Download all data files (.tsv, .csv, and .pdz) to C:\DATA\IN. The .tsv and .csv files will have all measurements that have been taken since the most recent internal memory clean-up, which will typically be done after each site or more frequently depending on the number of measurements executed. After further measurements, downloading again will add only the new measurements, but will replace the .tsv and .csv files with updated versions that will include the new measurements. A beep will sound when the device has finished measuring and the device can be moved away from the sample or repositioned for the next measurement. At this point, the previous measurement’s data has been stored and added to the results file.
Login to the computer using the login information on top of the computer keyboard.
First, turn on the instrument. To do this press the button on top of the device screen and hold it for a few seconds (Figure 1).
Figure 1. Bruker pXRF Handheld instrument
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Click on Bruker RemoteCtrl in the computer screen (Figure 2). You will use this program to control the device from the computer while measuring your samples.
Figure 2. Bruker Remote Ctrl program
4. Go to File 
Connect. A window will appear that will show the device number Ex. 900G7838. Select it and click Ok (Figure 3).
Figure 3. Connecting the device to the computer.
5. A login window will appear on the screen, login using the info on top of the computer keyboard (Figure 4).
Figure 4. Login screen in Bruker Remote Control
6. A pop up message will appear after logging in that tells you the gun's configuration just click click OK (Figure 5).
Figure 5. Configuration window when initializing the device.
7. When the device is connected, your screen should look like Figure 6. The device will say Not Armed when the x-ray is not active armed and the device will say Ready to Test when the x-ray is active.
Figure 6. pXRF initial screen. Left: X-ray is not active. Right: X-ray is active
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Downloading Data
Click on 
in the bottom left of the main screen. After you click on Utilities the following window will appear on the screen (Figure 7)
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Figure 7. Utilities Window.
Figure 7. Utilities Window.
2. Click on Backup Data.
Then make sure Copy is selected.
IMPORTANT: Never select Move as that will move the data from the internal memory into the computer, therefore deleting it from the device.
3. Save to Archive instead of USB by changing the following (Figure 8).
4. Click the blue down arrow and change the selected file from \USB to \ARCHIVE
Your Data File Destination Location should look like Figure 8.
Data File Destination Location: \ARCHIVE\Data\Backup-dd-mm-yyyy
the computer, therefore deleting it from the device.
Figure 8. Backup Data.
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5. After you have selected the file destination folder click on 
6. Close Bruker RemoteCtrl.
Bruker Instrument Tools
After you backup the data go to Bruker Instrument Tools icon in the computer's initial window (Figure 9).
Figure 9. Bruker Instrument Tools program
Figure 10. Connect the device to Bruker Instrument Tools.
Go to Device Connect Select 900G7838 and click Connect (Figure 10 & Figure 11).
Figure 11. Connect window.
2. After you are connected in Bruker instrument tools on the left side of the screen you will see a folder that says ARCHIVE
3. Open the ARCHIVE folder and you will see a screen like figure 12.
Figure 12. Archive folder
4. Go to Data Open the most recent backup (Figure 13).
Figure 13. Data folder
5. Select the file called GeoExploration.tsv (Figure 14)
Figure 14. GeoExploration file inside the backup folder.
6. Copy the GeoExploration.tsv file by right-clicking the file name and selecting copy from the dropdown menu.
7. Without exiting the program find the folder you want to place the data in the bottom window (Figure 15).
8. After you find the folder right-click the selected folder and select Paste from the dropdown menu.
Figure 15. Copy GeoExploration file and paste in to a folder in Windows(C:/)
Opening the file in Excel
Open
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a new workbook and go to the Data tab and select 
(Figure 16).
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Figure 16. Excel Data window → Select From Text in the left.
You will be prompted to your computer saved folders and you can select the folder where you saved the GeoExploration.tsv file.
3. Once you find the folder select All Files in the bottom right (Figure 17).
4. Then select the GeoExploration.tsv file and click Import. (Figure 17).
Figure 17. Finding the GeoExploration file
5. A window will open showing you a preview of the file and you have to click Load. (Figure 18)
Figure 18. Data Preview
6. Click load and the data will be exported to excel and should look like Figure 19.
Figure 19. Exported file from pXRF device.
Setting Date & Time
Note: If the device is powered off for a significant period of time, it is possible for the internal battery to discharge. The only affect of this will be that the date and time are reset. If the device has not been used for an expedition, check that the date and time are correct before proceeding to measurements.
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