you may also need PML

Thanks Liu for your answer, Actually I know I know must apply polarized light microscopy (PLM), but my question was that, how can I relate XRF data with XRD data regarding asbestos measurement!

the attached paper deals with this question

Thanks James. I think it could help regarding how to combine these data. will be back soon and tell you what I've understand.

there is no information about how to correlate these data (XRF+XRD) together in this paper. Also, based on the methodology just can identify different types not to quantify any type of asbestos.

XRF has only limited discriminatory power for asbestos mineral types and is not quantitative (I think). .XRD is more precise for crystalline structure and peak height can give a quantitation of crstalline material in the sample..

so to combine the two; use the simpler XRF for preliminary type characterisation of sample , then if further discrimination and quantitation is needed, go to XRD.

ie Depending on purpose of analysis one may be able to answer question posed more cheaply.

eg is this asbestos? (XRF)

is this chrysotile or amphibole?(XRF)

is this amosite? (XRD)

what % of sample is amosite (XRD)

For PhD you could compare accuracy of XRF with XRD in determing fibre type.

Thanks James,

My samples are dust samples! Since I can not identify asbestos fibers in samples due to very fine particles distributed heterogeneously, I supposed XRF can not be useful because If I have concentration and oxide portion of major cations and silica, can not differentiate it whether it belongs to an asbestos mineral or another mineral? what is your idea?

sorry, I thought you were doing bulk samples.

for respirable dust you really need TEM and EDAX.

How about XRD?

XRD could be useful also but a mixed dust could yield spectra difficult to interpret

XRD and XRF are not good for quantifying asbestos because for concentrations lower than 1% they are not reliable. To quantify the asbestos in the NOA we do the analysis on the massive with SEM, or our working group has developed a method with quantitative PCOM always for NOA.