Can't you just add carbon by difference (element or formula) and then specify the number of carbon atoms as one and the number of oxygen atoms in the Elements/Cations window as zero?

This a small thing but maybe useful to some users: when we implemented the dynamically calculated unanalyzed element feature described in the above post, we realized that we weren't always outputting the quant results of the unananalyzed elements (elements by difference, formula by difference (e.g., CePO4), element by stoichiometry to stoichiometric oxygen (e.g., carbonates), element by stoichiometry to another elements.

Yes, we were including these unanalyzed elements in the matrix correction, but we weren't always outputting them to the "classify" .DAT file along with the analyzed elements.

For example, in measuring some traces in zircon, we must specify ZrSiO4 as the matrix fr accurate trace element analyses. And CalcImage was including ZrSiO4 in the matrix correction when ZrSiO4 was specified as the "formula by difference", but the quant values for Zr, Si and O weren't always being output to the "classify" .DAT file as one might expect.  Here is an example of traces measured in zircon, but ZrSiO4 is included in the matrix correction as the "formula by difference".  The traces are corrected for the matrix effects of the ZrSiO4, but the Zr, Si and O are not shown:


 
This is now fixed.  So whenever unanalyzed elements are specified in the Calculation Option dialog, these elements will now be output to the "classify" .DAT file along with the analyzed elements (regardless whether or not images of these elements are also output).

Here is an example of traces in zircon analyzed and ZrSiO4 specified as the "formula by difference" and saved to the "classify"DAT file:



So yes, these unanalyzed elements are not output as images, but they are now saved to the "classify" .DAT file for possible use in other applications.  This is now the case whether the dynamically calculated unanalyzed elements feature is utilized or not with v. 13.8.6 of Probe for EPMA.  Update from the Help | Update Probe for EPMA menu as usual.

Quote from: Alejandro Cortes on July 17, 2024, 12:03:17 AM

Any thoughts on resin/hardener brands? The current mixture we are using results in epoxy mounts that contain sulphur which is a pain when measuring apatite.

My favorite epoxy is "Petropoxy" which is sold here:

https://www.burnhampetrographics.com/petropoxy/ppp.php

It's stay liquid until heated so give one a long working time which is useful for complicated mounts like this:

https://probesoftware.com/smf/index.php?topic=172.msg12595#msg12595

When using sticky tape or vaseline to mount grains, heating up the petropoxy will get rid of the tape and vaseline. Grains will more or start floating around. Any alternative to this problem?

Hi, in case of interest/use

A long bit of code for R calculating detection limits and errors for a map, it's interesting when you consider situations where the error on peak (number of pixels of peak map averaged) can become smaller than the error on the background (a series of quant points - if a few points are taken)

The code reads
1. background quant points - reading count intensities.
2. background quant points - reading kraw, count times, analytical conditions, std assign
3. map setup file - for map analytical condtions

Code attached

Cameca Camebax, purchased by WSU in 1981. I had the "pleasure" of using this puppy early in my graduate career, when it was a little over 20 years old. By that time, it had been upgraded to have motorized stages! You still had to navigate with hand cranks, looking through a binocular scope with an FOV that felt like it was 10 microns, but at least it could do automated analyses through Probe For Windows!

This probe was a real work horse, and served WSU for 27 years under the masterful hand of Scott Cornelius, until it was replaced by our current JEOL 8500F in about 2008.



Back in 1981, this beauty could be yours for under $200,000...$199,999.99 after tax. That's just shy of $700K in today's money.



Anyway, thought some might enjoy a little history snapshot.