Mineral identification using sequential decomposition into elements from mineral definitions
First Claim
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1. A method of determining the mineral present at a point in a sample of unknown composition, comprising:
- directing an electron beam toward a point on the sample to acquire an x-ray spectrum;
providing a mineral definition for a first mineral, the mineral definition for the first mineral including a list of elements comprising the first mineral, each of the elements having a corresponding standard spectrum associated with the first mineral, the combination of the standard spectra associated with the first mineral forming a first combined standard spectrum;
providing a mineral definition for a second mineral, the mineral definition for the second mineral including a list of elements comprising the second mineral, each of the elements having a corresponding standard spectrum associated with the second mineral, the combination of the standard spectra associated with the second mineral forming a second combined standard spectrum;
comparing the acquired spectrum from the point on the sample to the first combined standard spectrum of the elements from the element list of a first mineral definition;
comparing the acquired spectrum from the point on the sample to the second combined standard spectrum of the elements from the element list of a second mineral definition;
determining whether the first combined standard spectrum or the second combined standard spectrum best matches the acquired spectrum;
classifying the point on the sample as being composed of the first mineral if the first combined standard spectrum matches the acquired spectrum better than the second combined standard spectrum; and
classifying the point on the sample as being composed of the second mineral if the second combined standard spectrum matches the acquired spectrum better than the first combined standard spectrum.
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Abstract
Mineral definitions each include a list of elements, each of the elements having a corresponding standard spectrum. To determine the composition of an unknown mineral sample, the acquired spectrum of the sample is sequentially decomposed into the standard spectra of the elements from the element list of each of the mineral definitions, and a similarity metric computed for each mineral definition. The unknown mineral is identified as the mineral having the best similarity metric.
73 Citations
19 Claims
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1. A method of determining the mineral present at a point in a sample of unknown composition, comprising:
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directing an electron beam toward a point on the sample to acquire an x-ray spectrum; providing a mineral definition for a first mineral, the mineral definition for the first mineral including a list of elements comprising the first mineral, each of the elements having a corresponding standard spectrum associated with the first mineral, the combination of the standard spectra associated with the first mineral forming a first combined standard spectrum; providing a mineral definition for a second mineral, the mineral definition for the second mineral including a list of elements comprising the second mineral, each of the elements having a corresponding standard spectrum associated with the second mineral, the combination of the standard spectra associated with the second mineral forming a second combined standard spectrum; comparing the acquired spectrum from the point on the sample to the first combined standard spectrum of the elements from the element list of a first mineral definition; comparing the acquired spectrum from the point on the sample to the second combined standard spectrum of the elements from the element list of a second mineral definition; determining whether the first combined standard spectrum or the second combined standard spectrum best matches the acquired spectrum; classifying the point on the sample as being composed of the first mineral if the first combined standard spectrum matches the acquired spectrum better than the second combined standard spectrum; and classifying the point on the sample as being composed of the second mineral if the second combined standard spectrum matches the acquired spectrum better than the first combined standard spectrum. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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8. A method of spectrum data analysis, the method comprising:
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acquiring a spectrum of an unknown mineral sample; selecting a first mineral definition, the first mineral definition including an element list of the elements comprising the first mineral; decomposing the spectrum of the unknown mineral sample using elements from the first mineral definition; calculating an overall match probability between the unknown mineral sample and the first mineral definition; and selecting a second mineral definition, the second mineral definition including an element list of the elements comprising the second mineral; decomposing the spectrum of the unknown mineral sample using elements from the second mineral definition; calculating an overall match probability between the unknown mineral sample and the second mineral definition; and in response to the first mineral definition having a greater match probability than the second mineral definition, classifying the acquired spectrum as being composed of the first mineral; and in response to the second mineral definition having a greater match probability than the first mineral definition, classifying the acquired spectrum as being composed of the second mineral. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
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Specification