SEM Imagery and Interpretation of Grains from Mt. Kenya

Lab 6
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SEM Imagery and Interpretation of Grains from Mt. Kenya
Question 1
Scanning Electron Microscopy / Energy Dispersive Spectroscopy (SEM-EDS) provides a high-resolution surface imaging for mineral analysis. The SEM offers high magnification of up to 100,000X with greater depth of the field. The SEM-EDS uses a focused beam with high energy electrons to produce signals at the surface of solid elements. Therefore, it can reveal information on texture, chemical composition, and the crystalline structure as well as the orientation of the components making a sample. Experts conducting the mineral analysis from Mt. Kenya successfully use the SEM-EDS due to the different mineral elements confined in the various topographical sections (Mahaney 1990). Therefore, the surface topography gives different amounts of electrons to ensure contrast in the electron micrograph that provides a representation of the surface topography and its composition.
The prime advantages of the SEM-EDS are the provision of digital image resolution to a low level of 15 nanometers. Besides, there is a magnification of imaging calibration that is traceable which enable proper determination of grain size, particle size application, especially on the saved images. Also, it gives an excellent qualitative elemental analysis with a no standardized quantitative analysis and mapping x-ray scan (Mahaney 1990). For example, an analysis of the A and B horizons and their components at microanalysis level using the x-ray at Lake reveal high levels of silicon as components in sand samples as well as crushing features in quarts due to Aeolian transportation and glaciations (Mahaney 1990, p.81).
Separately, the EDS measures the numbers of x-rays produced from a substantial sample of a mineral when electrons radiate versus the energy of the x-rays. Thus, it can indicate as well as quantify the constituents of a given sample. Even though the EDS provide the elemental composition of samples, a combination of SEM-EDS delivers the morphology or topographic information. Besides, it characterizes the morphology, size of particles as well as detecting the contamination of the sample composition as well as helps in viewing the cross-sections of the coatings deposit, thickness, and microstructures of the sample (Noble et al., 2017). For example, a study Gorges and Lake Ellis glaciations from ICE ON THE EQUATOR reveals properties...