Rapid method for the determination of the major components of magnesite, dolomite and related materials by X-ray spectrometry

Abstract

A new flux, MAG 5743, has been developed, which contains 57% m/m lithium tetraborate and 43% m/m lithium metaborate for use in the analysis of raw magnesite, caustic and dead burnt magnesia, (i.e., magnesite heated to 700–1100 °C and >1400 °C, respectively) and dolomite. The flux can be used for the determination of loss on fusion followed by X-ray fluorescence analysis of the glass disc for its major component elements, as their oxides MgO, CaO, SiO₂, Al₂O₃ and Fe₂O₃, on the one sample. As the flux is both fluid and reactive at 1000 °C, fusion times are short (10 min) regardless of the reactivity of the sample. The results obtained from the analysis of three certified reference materials using the new flux were statistically indistinguishable at the 95% confidence level from the certificate values.