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Note: The device can be used on its own or it can be connected to a laptop and, using the program Bruker RemoteCtrl 
, the device screen will be mirrored on the laptop. On the laptop, log in using the daq profile (Name: daq, Password: daq). Once logged in, connect the device to the laptop using the USB cord labeled ‘pXRF to computer cord’ connected to the device in the USB Mini-B port (Fig. 1, D).
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- 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 – Sample – a powdered sample in a sample cupDiscrete – for any other samples
- Expedition: The current expedition, example
- Example: 397
- Site & Hole: The site and hole the sample was taken from, example
- 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, .
- Sample example: 1H/6 or 32X/1
- Standard 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. 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. Note: If the device is connected to the laptop and using Bruker RemoteCtrl software, use the barcode scanner to enter the TextID by scanning the QR code on the section half or sample label.
- Example: SHLF11744181
- Top Offset (cm):
- For a section half or sample piece from a section half (discrete, unaltered piece), this is the distance in cm 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 , other discrete 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’ screen.
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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.
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Downloading the Data
To export the results, connect the device to the computer if not already connected. Also, log into the OES OES 
using your personal credentials.
Open the Bruker Instrument Tools 
found on the desktop. Go to Device,then Connect and select 900G7838. Click Connect(Fig. 6 and 7).
Figure 6. Menu bar of Bruker Instrument Tools.
Figure 7. Connection window of Bruker Instrument Tools.
After connection, a file tree will appear on the left side of the program window (Fig. NN). Select the folder ‘Bruker’ and double click to open it. Then select the ‘Data’ folder and double click to open. Inside this folder is a series of .pdz files, a
Figure NN. File tree for the Tracer 5 in Bruker Instrument Tools.
Inside the Data folder is:
- A .pdz file (spectra files) for each measurement
- A .tsv file for each application used
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- (i.e. GeoExploration.tsv)
- A .csv results file named Results.csv
If a USB stick is installed, the data is automatically written to the 'Data' folder on the USB. The Tracer is also set up to save each data measurement to the internal memory as a back up in case the USB stick should fail. The Tracer automatically updates the ‘Data’ folder folders in the Bruker and USB folders 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 all the files you want to download and then select the ‘Download’ option in the toolbar of the program window (Fig. LOL, Box). 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 (Fig. LOL, Arrow). The .tsv and .csv files will have all measurements that have been taken since the most recent last internal memory clean-up, which will typically be done after each site or more frequently depending on the number of measurements executed. The data can be copied from this folder for data processing.
Figure LOL. Downloading data with Bruker Instrument Tools. The box indicates the download button. The arrow indicates the location to save the data to.
Opening the .tsv file in Excel
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Open a new workbook and go to the Data tab and select 
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You will be prompted to your computer saved folders and you can select the folder where you saved the navigate to the folder containing the GeoExploration.tsv file file.
Once you find the folder select All Files in the , select All Files from the drop down menu at the bottom right (Fig. 8, Box). Then select the GeoExploration.tsv file and click click Import. (Fig. 8).
Figure 8. Finding the GeoExploration fileImporting data from the .tsv files into Excel. The red box indicates where to select 'All Files'.
A window will open showing you a preview of the file. Select 'Tab' from the 'Delimiter' drop down menu options if it is not already there. Click Load. (Fig. 9)
Figure 9. Data Preview in Excel of the .tsv file. The red box indicates the correct 'Tab' should be selected as the delimiter.
The data will be exported imported to Excel and should look like Figure 10. The editable column information (sample information) in a more useable format. The columns with the sample information will be the last columns to the right.
Figure 10. Exported file from pXRF device.
This file can then be saved in Uservol (when logged into the OES) to access for data processing. The file may contain repeat data, simply delete the rows of unwanted data.
!!! Clearing the internal memory !!!
Note: The internal memory of the device is only 512MB (~1200 scans)! Therefore, the internal memory may need to be cleaned up several times an expedition to prevent locking up the device’s onboard computer. Additionally, it is important to keep the number of files in the Data folder of the USB low as well. The X-ray technician will take care of this, but keep this in mind if you are performing a lot of measurements!
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