Scanning analysis of REE in bastnaesite with synchrotron radiation X-ray fluorescence microprobe

The content of REE(La, Ce, Pr, Nd, Sm) in bastnaesite was measured by synchrotron radiation X-ray fluorescence microprobe. Scanning analysis makes use of excitation of the REE K lines between 33 and 50 keV. SR white beam from a Wiggler source at the Beijing Electron Positron Collider(BEPC) of the National Laboratory, in order to excite the REE. The bastnaesite from the same mineral area was powdered to particle size less than or equal to 300 mesh. It was then divided into two parts. One portion was used to be determined by XRF after depositing with oxalate and transforming into oxide. The other was pressed into disk without any binder as the reference sample. The weight and the diameter of the disk were 15 g and 26 mm respectively.