Simultaneous Use of Observed and Calculated Standard Profiles in Quantitative XRD Analysis of Minerals by the Multiphase Rietveld Method: The Determination of Pseudorutile in Mineral Sands Products

In conventional multiphase Rietveld refinement, now being used for quantitative phase determination, the crystal structure of each phase needs to be known in order to generate a calculated standard pattern of the phase to be refined against the measured XRD pattern. This is a disadvantage when the structural data for a phase are imperfect or unknown and may prevent an analysis. A method is given whereby a phase with an imperfectly known or unknown crystal structure can be included in a multiphase Rietveld refinement, with other well-characterised phases, by use of an empirical or “observed” hk l file for that phase, with the SIROQUANT software package. The amplitudes 1F(hk l )1 in the empirical hk l file of the phase generate a reference profile for it which agrees with a measured standard pattern of the phase. Methods are given for the creation and scaling of empirical or “observed” phase hk l datasets. The Rietveld variable parameters (preferred orientation, linewidth, lineshape and unit cell) are refinable in the usual way for a phase with an empirical hk l dataset.