When high energy electrons from a scanning Electron Microscope (SEM) bombard a mineral grain they generate Xrays of voltages specific to the atoms being bombarded. An Energy Dispersive Spectrometre (EDS) detects these Xrays and displays them in graph form on a computer. Interpretation of the raw graph is called Qualitative EDS analysis. Mathmatical analyses of the graph yielding atom and mole percents is called Semiquantitative or Quantitative EDS analysis depending on the precision.

KAYGEEDEE MINERALS is now offering a Qualitative EDS service including Emailed, labeled spectra for $10 US/spectrum. Please see examples.

Having performed a half million such analyses in my twenty year geological career I can identify most but not all minerals by their EDS spectra. Please be advised that in no way, shape, manner or form is Qualitative EDS definitive. It can be highly subjective.

Only a sand-sized grain or a scraping in a gelatin capsule or taped to paper is sufficient for the analysis. Entire micromounts can be analyzed but nothing larger. Gemstones can be analyzed by this nondestructive technique but for liability reasons I prefer to analyze chips or the rough.

The following spectra were created on an AMRAY 1200A with a PGT SiLi detector and DTSA software. They are representative of the type of Qualitative EDS mineral identification service that I offer.