A standardless method of quantitative mineral analysis using X-ray and chemical data

A complex standardless mineral-analysis method is described which determines both the concentrations and the chemistry of minerals in a batch of m ≤ w + t suitable rock samples, where w and t are the numbers of crystalline and amorphous minerals, respectively. The method is based on data from X-ray diffractometry and the bulk chemistry of the samples. Analytical examples are given. The problem of the accuracy of the analysis is discussed.