Patent Number: 
Section: claims

1. A system for the detecting or analyzing of trace elements in a material, comprising:at least one X-ray source for directing X-ray energy from greater than 26.4 KeV to less than 59.5 KeV incident on the material;at least one detector for detecting X-ray energy fluoresced from the material and producing an output signal in response thereto; andan analyzer for indicating the presence of one or more trace elements based on the output signal. 2. The system according to claim 1, wherein the material is coal and the analyzer indicates the presence of one or more trace elements selected from the group consisting of vanadium, chromium, manganese, cobalt, nickel, copper, zinc, arsenic, selenium, molybdenum, mercury, lead, platinum, and gold in the material. 3. The system according to claim 1, further including a filter for filtering the energy emitted from the X-ray source. 4. The system according to claim 3, wherein the filter is formed of a piece of metal having a thickness from between about 10 μm to 4 millimeters and comprised of a material selected from the group consisting of copper, zinc, nickel, zirconium, niobium, molybdenum, and brass. 5. The system according to claim 1, further including a collimator for collimating the X-rays projected from the source to the material. 6. The system according to claim 5, wherein the material is moving in a first direction and the collimator includes an elongated slot having a major dimension that is substantially aligned with the first direction. 7. The system according to claim 1, wherein the X-ray source is an adjustable voltage X-ray tube. 8. The system according to claim 7, further including a computer or programmable logic controller for adjusting the voltage of the X-ray tube. 9. The system according to claim 1, wherein the material is moving, and further including a leveling structure positioned upstream of the X-ray source. 10. The system according to claim 9, wherein the leveling structure is selected from the group consisting of a plow, a rotating drum, a fixed bar, a rotating bar, or combinations thereof. 11. The system according to claim 1, wherein the material is moving and the X-ray source and detector are mounted on a sled in contact with a surface of the material. 12. The system according to claim 1, wherein the X-ray source and detector are positioned in a probe adapted for insertion in a borehole, wherein the material is a portion of a wall defining the borehole. 13. The system according to claim 1, further including a second X-ray source for directing X-ray energy in the range of 3–15 KeV toward the material. 14. A system for the detecting or analyzing of trace elements in a material using an X-ray detector for generating an output signal based on X-ray energy fluoresced by the material, comprising:at least one X-ray source for directing X-ray energy from greater than 26.4 Kev to less than 59.5 KeV incident on the material;an analyzer for indicating the presence of one or more elements selected from the group consisting of vanadium, chromium, manganese, cobalt, nickel, copper, zinc, arsenic, selenium, molybdenum, mercury, lead, platinum, and gold in the material based on the output signal. 15. The system of claim 14, wherein the detector includes a detection axis and the source includes a transmission axis, wherein the angle between the detection axis and the transmission axis is approximately 78°. 16. A system for the detecting or analyzing of trace elements in a material, comprising:at least one X-ray source for directing X-ray energy less than 80 KeV toward the material;at least one detector for detecting X-ray energy fluoresced from the material and producing an output signal in response thereto; andan analyzer for indicating the presence of one or more elements selected from the group consisting of vanadium, chromium, manganese, cobalt, nickel, copper, zinc, arsenic, selenium, molybdenum, mercury, lead, platinum, and gold in the material based on the output signal;wherein the detector includes a detection axis, the source includes a transmission axis, and an angle between the detection axis and the transmission axis is approximately 78°. 17. The system according to claim 16, wherein the detector is mounted within two inches of the material. 18. An apparatus for supporting at least one sensor for intended use in connection with analyzing the elemental composition of a material having a varying profile moving along a conveyor, comprising:a base for supporting the sensor adjacent to the conveyor; andat least one pair of swing arms supporting the base to allow for movement to and fro along a generally arcuate path as the profile of the material changes. 19. The apparatus according to claim 18, wherein the base includes a pair of spaced, elongated runners for engaging an upper portion of the material moving along the conveyor. 20. The apparatus according to claim 18, wherein the runners are convergent to assist in compacting the portion of the material passing therebetween in a direction generally transverse to the direction in which the conveyor is moving. 21. The apparatus according to claim 18, wherein at least one of the swing arms includes a counterweight for counterbalancing the weight of at least the base such that a selected amount of pressure is applied to the material surface to assist in compaction. 22. The apparatus according to claim 18, wherein the base includes a leveling structure adjacent a leading edge thereof for engaging and smoothing the portion of the material approaching the energy source. 23. The apparatus according to claim 18, wherein at least two pairs of swing arms support the base from a stable support structure positioned above the conveyor. 24. A system for the online detecting or analyzing of trace elements in a material, comprising:at least one adjustable voltage X-ray source for directing X-ray energy toward the material;at least one detector for detecting X-ray energy fluoresced from the material and producing an output signal in response thereto;an analyzer for receiving the output signal; anda controller for controlling the voltage of the X-ray source to produce energies at a first predetermined level from 20 KeV to less than 80 KeV and corresponding to the detection of elements in the material having an atomic number less than 30. 25. The system of claim 24, wherein the controller is programmed for controlling the voltage of the X-ray source to produce energies at a second predetermined level corresponding to the detection of elements having an atomic number greater than 30. 26. The system of claim 25, wherein the first energy level is greater than 15 KeV. 27. A system for the online detecting or analyzing of trace elements, comprising:a material;at least one X-ray source for directing X-ray energy from greater than 26.4 KeV to less than 59.5 KeV incident on the material;at least one detector for detecting X-ray energy fluoresced from the material and producing an output signal in response thereto; andan analyzer for receiving the output signal and indicating the presence of one or more elements selected from the group consisting of vanadium, chromium, manganese, cobalt, nickel, copper, zinc, arsenic, selenium, molybdenum, mercury, lead, platinum, and gold in the material. 28. The system of claim 27, wherein the material is comprised of particles having an average size of greater than 10 millimeters. 29. The system of claim 27, wherein the material is water. 30. A method for analyzing the elemental composition of a material, comprising:using an X-ray source to strike the material with X-ray energy from greater than 26.4 KeV to less than 59.5 KeV;detecting X-ray fluorescence from the material; andanalyzing the fluorescence to determine the presence of one or more trace elements. 31. The method according to claim 30, wherein the analyzing step includes detecting the presence of elements selected from the group consisting of vanadium, chromium, manganese, cobalt, nickel, copper, zinc, arsenic, selenium, molybdenum, mercury, lead, platinum, and gold in the material. 32. The method of claim 30, wherein the presence of vanadium, chromium, manganese, cobalt, nickel, copper, zinc, arsenic, selenium, molybdenum is detected by measuring the Kα or Kβ emission bands. 33. The method of claim 30, wherein the presence of mercury, lead, platinum, and gold is detected by measuring the Lα emission bands. 34. The method of claim 30, wherein the method further includes mounting an X-ray source and detector in a probe for positioning in a borehole. 35. The method of claim 30, wherein the method further includes mounting an X-ray source and detector on a mining machine. 36. A method of completing online elemental analysis on a material, comprising:using an adjustable voltage X-ray tube to project X-ray energy toward the material at a first level selected from the range of 20 KeV to 80 KeV for detecting the presence of one or more trace elements;detecting the X-ray energy fluoresced by the material; andadjusting the voltage of the X-ray tube to project X-ray energy toward the material at a second level different from the first level. 37. The method of claim 36, further including the step of detecting the X-ray energy fluoresced from the material after the adjusting step. 38. A method of positioning a sensor for use in connection with elemental analysis closely adjacent to a material moving along a conveyor, comprising:positioning a structure capable of swinging to and fro adjacent to an upper surface of the material moving along the conveyor; andmounting the sensor on the structure. 39. The method of claim 38, wherein the structure is a sled including a pair of convergent runners, the sensor comprises an X-ray source and an X-ray detector, and the mounting step includes mounting the X-ray source and detector in a backscattering geometry between the runners. 40. A system for the detecting or analyzing of trace elements in a material, comprising:at least one adjustable voltage X-ray tube for directing X-ray energy from between 20 KeV to less than 80 KeV toward the material;at least one detector for detecting X-ray energy fluoresced from the material and producing an output signal in response thereto; andan analyzer for indicating the presence of one or more elements based on the output signal. 41. The system of claim 40, further including a sled for supporting the adjustable voltage X-ray tube. 42. A system for the detecting or analyzing of trace elements in a material, comprising:at least one X-ray source for directing X-ray energy toward the material;at least one detector for detecting X-ray energy fluoresced from the material and producing an output signal in response thereto; andwherein the X-ray source and detector are mounted on a sled in contact with a surface of the material. 43. The system of claim 42, wherein the sled is supported by a plurality of swing arms. 44. A method for assessing the presence of mercury or arsenic in coal, comprising:striking the coal with X-ray energy from greater than 20 KeV to 80 KeV;detecting X-ray fluorescence from the coal; andanalyzing the fluorescence to determine the presence of mercury or arsenic in the coal. 45. The method of claim 44, wherein the X-ray energy level incident on the material is about 25 KeV.