Application of μXRF analysis on the Upper Cretaceous Mancos Shale: A comparison with ICP-OES/MS

This study investigates the elemental signature of fine-grained sedimentary rock (mudstone) obtained using energy-dispersive micro-X-ray fluorescence (μXRF). A short section (28.5 cm) Upper Cretaceous Mancos Shale was analysed with an Itrax μXRF core scanner at 0.2 mm intervals for comparison to and petrographic composition. Fifteen subsamples were collected 2 cm ICP-OES/MS analysis obtain absolute concentrations elements oxides, thin sections used microfacies analysis. The data from show a high level reproducibility between separate scans moderate strong Spearman-Rho correlation (R2 > 0.6) ICP-derived several oxides: Fe2O3, SiO2, Al2O3, K2O, TiO2, MnO. Common ratios in palaeoenvironmental studies (e.g., Zr/Rb, Ca/Ti, Mn/Ti) also showed good when trends compared. relationships petrography lithology, Si/Ti ratio accurately identifying quartz-rich layers, Ca/Ti Mn/Ti corresponding increased carbonate content, which are importance planning hydraulic fracturing unconventional resources. At scale, Ti, Si useful detecting short-term, rapid patterns events, likely resulting storm activity tempestites, wave-enhanced sediment gravity flows). high-sampling resolution scanners can provide advantages over traditional geochemical techniques since aliasing is minimized. Analysing these longer may serve as proxy determining high-frequency climatic changes Interior Seaway allow improved correlations intra- inter-basinal events other basins.