X-RAY-DIFFRACTION MEASUREMENT OF THE QUARTZ CONTENT OF CLAY AND SILT FRACTIONS IN SOILS

An XRD method for measurement of quartz content using ZnO as the internal standard was tested on different particle sizes between 0 and 20-mu-m. Calibration curves showed a good correlation coefficient for particle-size fractions up to 20-mu-m; the slope increased for the fractions from 0.7 to 5-mu-m and was relatively constant for coarser particle sizes. Fine quartz fractions were etched with hydrofluoric acid to remove the surface layer damaged during dry grinding. The use of such etched quartz increased the slopes of the calibration curves for small particle-size fractions and approximated the natural fine quartz fraction much better than the original dry-ground material. The mean of six measurements gave good accuracy provided that the slope of the calibration curve was adjusted for the particular particle-size fraction. This method was used on 0-2-mu-m, 0-0.2-mu-m and 0.2-2-mu-m fractions of French silty soils and the results are in agreement with the data from chemical analysis and with the mineralogical interpretation.