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Resource Note 82

Page 

NO. 82 DATE 11/27/06

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HazardousMaterials

Evaluation of New 

X-Ray Fluorescence 

Instrumentation 

at Hazmat and 

Abandoned Mine 

Land Sites

By Karl L. Ford, Ph.D., Remediation 

Advisor, BLM, National Science and 

Technology Center

Background 

The Bureau of Land Management 

(BLM) has a large number of 

Hazmat and abandoned mine 

land (AML) sites that have metals 

in soils, sediment, tailings, and 

waste rock dumps. To evaluate 

removal or remedial actions, these 

sites need to be characterized 

to determine if elements exceed 

risk-based concentrations and to 

determine the area and volume 

of material needing remediation. 

In addition, a means of testing 

the soil or mine waste is needed 

in the field during excavation and 

removal to determine if risk-based 

cleanup concentrations are met. 

Portable x-ray fluorescence (XRF) 

technology offers a relatively lowcost means of accomplishing these 

objectives. The National Science 

and Technology Center (NSTC) 

has been using XRF technology 

for a number of years and instructs 

field personnel in the use of the 

technology in NTC class 1703-14, 

Site Characterization at AML Sites.

Discussion

XRF instruments determine the 

element present by irradiating 

the soil sample with x-rays. A 

fluorescence spectrum is generated and detected that is unique 

for each element. In addition, 

the x-rays ionize the atom, 

dislodging electrons from the 

interior shells. Each electron 

dislodged is an ionization, and 

the number of ionizations is 

proportional to concentration. 

The XRF reports as many as 

20 elements simultaneously 

and, depending on the instrument and source configuration, as many as 40 elements 

in the periodic table—from 

magnesium to uranium—can 

be reported. Measurements 

can be taken directly on the 

soil (in situ) or samples can be 

collected, dried, and sieved for 

greater accuracy (intrusive). 

Detection limits range from 

about 10 to 50 mg/kg depending on the element and should 

be tailored to data quality 

objectives for the project.

The NSTC has used this 

technology at many Hazmat 

and AML sites, including wire 

burns, waste dumps, shooting 

ranges, and virtually all types 

of AML sites. The Environmental Protection Agency has 

established Method 6200, 

which specifies accepted quality assurance-quality control 

and sampling procedures for 

using XRF technology. These 

procedures typically include the 

use of blanks, certified standards, 

precision samples, and laboratory 

confirmation split samples. Laboratory split samples are compared 

to XRF results by using linear 

regression, and the regression coefficient and slope bias are compared 

to acceptable ranges published in 

Method 6200. Regression coefficients of >0.7 are considered 

screening data and >0.9 are considered definitive data. It is typical to 

achieve >0.9 on intrusive sampling 

for many target elements such as 

arsenic, lead, copper, and zinc. 

It is essential that Method 6200 

be used for removal or remedial 

action to provide legally defensible 

data.

During 1995–2006, the NSTC 

and various field offices purchased 

and used the NITON 700 XRF, 

NITON XRF in situ measurement

Innov-X XRF in situ measurement
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Forestry

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Historical

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Cadastral/

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Resource Note 82

Page 

which uses a radioactive source 

or sources to produce the x-rays. 

The Cadmium-109 source should 

be replaced every 2–3 years and 

replacement is costly. Thermo 

Fisher Scientific Inc., provider of 

the NITON Analyzers product 

line, has informed users that it will 

no longer support this model after 

2009. A newer XRF instrument 

by Innov-X that uses an x-ray tube 

instead of a radioactive source is 

now available and configured with 

a Global Positioning System and 

keyboard through a Pocket PC. 

Additionally, the Innov-X does not 

require costly source replacement 

or radioactive source licensing, 

and it detects all eight Resource 

Conservation and Recovery Act 

metals. Because of the obsolescence 

of the NITON, the NSTC 

performed a demonstration with 

the Innov-X XRF unit at the Clear 

Creek mercury site.

Side-by-side measurements 

using certified standards for ten 

elements showed the Innov-X 

provides better accuracy and lower 

detection limits, especially for 

mercury, whereas the NITON 

underestimated mercury by 

twofold to threefold, depending on 

concentration range.

Contact

Karl Ford, Ph.D.

Remediation Advisor

Bureau of Land Management

National Science and Technology 

Center

Bldg. 50, Denver Federal Center

P.O. Box 25047

Denver, CO 80225

Phone: 303-236-6622

Email: Karl_Ford@blm.gov

The Bureau of Land Management Resource Notes, 

which are posted on this Web site 

(http://www.blm.gov/nstc/resourcenotes/resnotes.html),

are early announcements of technical and informational 

topics for BLM personnel and their customers. Information contained in this Resource Note has not been 

peer-reviewed. Conclusions and opinions expressed herein 

do not necessarily represent those of BLM. Use of trade 

names does not imply U.S. government endorsement of 

commercial products.

Technical Editor - Deborah Harris 

(Debbie_Harris@blm.gov)

Graphic Designer - Ethel Coontz (Ethel_Coontz@blm.gov)

If you would like to prepare a Resource Note for 

electronic distribution, or if you have an idea or can 

suggest an author for a Resource Note, contact 

NSTC@blm.gov; phone: 303-236-2772) 

with the topic and the 

name of the writer, including mailing address, 

phone number, and e-mail address.

Thank you for your interest in Resource Notes.