Let's limit the topic to the geological specimens. Matrix effect is defined as the combination of absorption and enhancement effects. Mineralogical effect is defined as the difference of absorption of the fluorescent radiation in the particles of minerals of different chemical compositions. To me regardless of the difference in the name, both of these terms explain the same phenomenon. Any idea if these two are different?
Following from Paolo's answer, just to be clear, the mineralogical effect only applies to powders containing fractions of different materials or minerals, not to glasses. In both glass and powder the matrix effect is still present.
Thanks Paola and Richard. You are right Richard about FB method. Since the mineralogy is destructed in the fusion process, almost all the minerals are in oxide forms, so mineralogical effect (and particle size effect) are absent. Yet, we have the matrix effect which software is well capable to resolve especially in FP method.
To conclude, I think mineralogical effect is a wider term which covers the matrix effect. Mineralogical effect occurs in some conditions: 1-when an element exist in more than one form (e.g. Si in quartz and Illite) 2- Difference in physical nature of mineral (e.g. Quartz is surrounded by clay minerals under pressing conditions and hence lowers the exposure of X-ray to quartz due to insufficient light penetration to buried Si. Am I correct here?
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