Sample Slurry/Smear Slide Mounting for Small Sample Amounts
The following technique is modified from the U.S. Geological Survey Open-File Report 01-041, A Laboratory Manual for X-Ray Powder Diffraction. For a very small amount of sample material (i.e., end of a tooth pick), samples may be ground to a fine talc-like powder and smeared onto one of the quartz disk or zero background inserts. Although not useful for semiquantitative analysis, this method is useful for rapidly determining bulk mineralogy.
Preparing Smear Slury/Smear Slide
- Place a small amount of sample powder in the center of a quartz or single crystal quartz disk.
- Add 2–3 drops of 70 % isopropyl alcohol or distilled water to the sample. Note: Isopropyl dries faster than water.
- Spread the sample to a thin layer using a glass rod. The slurry should be spread evenly across the disk. If there is not enough material to cover the entire disk, concentrate the sample in the middle of the disk where the X-rays will contact the sample.
- Place the sample in the desiccator to dry before running in the XRD.