Investigation of impact materials from the Barringer Meteor Crater by micro-XANES and micro-PIXE techniques

Impact materials from the Barringer Meteor Crater were examined by combined micro-X-ray absorption near edge structure (micro-XANES) and micro-particle induced X-ray emission (micro-PIXE) methods. Efforts were focussed on the complex characterization of their iron-rich inclusions. The lateral distribution of elements as well as the oxidation state of iron was determined. The study demonstrates the capabilities of chemical speciation screening based on energy selective micro-XRF maps in geology. With the help of this method zero-valent (metallic) and three-valent iron were excluded in the studied specimens without performing XANES in every pixel.