Mineral and Mineral Product Applications

• Na, Mg, Al, Si, S, K, Ca, and Fe in Cement, Clinker, and Raw Meal
• Na, Mg, Al, Si, K, Ca, and Fe in Lime, Limestone, and Dolomite
• Na, Mg, Al, Si, K, Ca, and Fe in Sand and Glass
• Mg, Al, Si, Ca, Ti, Fe in Kaolin and other Clays
• Al, Si, Ti, and Fe in Bauxite
• P, S, Ca, Fe in Phosphate Rock and Fertilizer
• Na, Mg, Al, Si, and Fe in Cement Wallboard
• Ca, S in Gypsum

Geological type applications like raw minerals and mineral products like cement have long been the largest single market for XRF instrumentation, particularly WDXRF.

Na, Mg, Al, Si, S, K, Ca, and Fe in Cement, Clinker, and Raw Meal
Cement is a blend of several minerals. It is critical to control the elemental composition to control properties like strength setting time, and color. XRF is used to analyze the raw components, the raw meal, clinker, and finally finished cement. Cement plants have at least one WDXRF instrument, and many have smaller EDXRF instruments as backups, or even on-line devices. back to top

Na, Mg, Al, Si, K, Ca, and Fe in Lime, Limestone, and Dolomite
Limestone is the major component of cement, and is converted into lime. It is one of the most common minerals and XRF is a popular method for analyzing it. back to top

Na, Mg, Al, Si, K, Ca, and Fe in Sand and Glass
Sand is also a component of cement, but is mainly used in making glass. Low iron sand is particularly valuable for glassmaking, so it is an important sub-application. back to top

Mg, Al, Si, Ca, Ti, Fe in Kaolin and other Clays
Clays are used in a variety of ceramic goods, bricks, and other finished products. Monitoring Ti and Fe content is important for color control, and low cost EDXRF devices can perform this analysis, while high-end EDXRF and WDXRF instruments can measure all the major elements. back to top

Al, Si, Ti, and Fe in Bauxite
Bauxite is a mineral that is high in aluminum and is the most important source of aluminum for metal production. back to top

P, S, Ca, Fe in Phosphate Rock and Fertilizer
Phosphate rock is the major source of phosphorus used in fertilizer and phosphoric acid production. XRF is commonly used to measure the rock, phos-acid solutions, and fertilizer. back to top

Na, Mg, Al, Si, and Fe in Cement Wallboard
Cemented wallboards are stronger and more durable than pressed wood wallboard. The cement components in the board are analyzed by XRF instrument. back to top

Ca, S in Gypsum
Both major and minor elements in gypsum can be measured by XRF. back to top