X-ray Analysis of an Unknown Mineral

You have two samples of unknown minerals.  For each:

1.  Grind up the sample, X-ray it.

2.  Use Jade to figure out what the mineral is.
	Once you figure out what the mineral is, you can get a, b, c, α, β, and γ from Jade (or for some other source).

Now do some spread sheet calculations:

3.  See Box 12.2.  Using the cell parameters you got from your X-ray, calculate d-values for X-ray peaks.  Consider all h, k, and l values that give d-values between about 1Å and 10Å.  I suggest you find some systematic way to do this, and for sure use a spreadsheet.

4.  Now modify your spreadsheet so the d-values are converted to θ values using Braggs law.  Finally, add another column to your table that has 2θ values.  These are the angles at which X-ray peaks can occur, in principle.  Of course they will not occur if there are not atoms on the plains to cause diffraction.

5.  Return to the actual X-ray scan.  Using your calculated 2θ values, label all the major peaks with correct (hkl).  

6.  Hand in scan and spread sheet and a brief report giving the equations you used and discussing what you did and why it did or did not work.