The XRF (X-Ray Fluorescence) Core Scanner is originally designed for rapid and non- destructive determination of the chemical composition of marine bottom sediments onboard ships and at laboratories ashore. Marine bottom sediments are often sampled by means of box-cores, gravity-cores and piston-cores, and collected in plastic tubes which are subsequently split in length. The XRF measurements are carried out on split cores.
As an example, the XRF core scanner is able to perform a complete scan of one meter long core with a sample resolution of 1 cm within 30 minutes. It gives the possibility to take a new core in the same area if the chemical data show that the core does not contain certain expected information or that errors have been made with coring. The core scanner is equipped with a motor actuated door which gives access to the core fit system. The core fit system can adjust the position of a split core by means of a mechanical system.
The XRF analysis method requires an X-ray source and a detector to be positioned accurately above the sediment surface. Therefore a computer controlled system accuretly positions the core and the instruments even if the core is not cut very homogeneously.
The requirement for an accurate XRF analysis is a horizontal surface. However besides the split sediment core other sample holders can be fitted and measured in the scanner. For instance samples on a microscope-glass can be easily measured.