TY - JOUR T1 - Importance of grain size distribution in quantitative analysis using Rietveld Method: An experimental study AU - Talay, Arif AU - Kiliç, Cumhur Özcan PY - 2025 DA - November Y2 - 2025 DO - 10.19111/bulletinofmre.1819341 JF - Bulletin of the Mineral Research and Exploration JO - Bull.Min.Res.Exp. PB - Maden Tetkik ve Arama Genel Müdürlüğü WT - DergiPark SN - 0026-4563 SP - 1 EP - 2 VL - 178 IS - 178 LA - en AB - The Rietveld method refines a theoretical line profile until it fits the measured profile using a least squares methodology. In Rietveld method, complete qualitative mineral determination, mineral chemistry, appropriate XRD analytical conditions and sample preparation steps should be applied correctly. This study aims to determine the grain size-dependent variations in the quantitative compositions of minerals with various chemical compositions and crystallographic characteristics. Eight pure minerals (quartz, calcite, halite, colemanite, barite, polyhalite, gypsum, thenardite) are been selected, powdered, pulverized and separated into 3 different grain sizes as 228μm (Dv90), 29μm (Dv90) and 8μm (Dv90). These minerals are mixed in certain proportions to prepare three mixture samples. Mixture samples are evaluated using the Rietveld Method on XRD whole rock patterns and then compared to the actual reference mixture sample whose mixing ratio is known for each grain size. Sample with a grain size of 8μm (Dv90) with random orientation gave the closest result compared to the reference content. If the structural and physical refinement stages are processed properly, accuracy of percentage mineralogical composition increases when the grain size decreases. KW - Mineralogy KW - X-Ray Diffraction (XRD) KW - Rietveld Method KW - Quantitative Analysis KW - Grain Size CR - Anthony, J. W., Bideaux, A. R., Bladh W. K., Nichols, M. C. 2003. Handbook of Mineralogy, Mineralogical Society of America, USA, 4129. CR - Bish, D.L., Reynolds Jr, R.C. 1989. Sample preparation for X-ray diffraction. D.J. Bish, J.E. Post (Eds.). Modern Powder Diffraction. Reviews in Mineralogy, 20, 73-100, Mineralogical Society of America, Washington D.C, USA. CR - Hillier, S. 1999. Use of an air brush to spray dry samples for X-ray powder diffraction. Clay Minerals 34, 127-135. CR - Hillier, S. 2000. Accurate quantitative analysis of clay and other minerals in sandstones by XRD: comparison of a Rietveld and a reference intensity ratio (RIR) method and the importance of sample preparation. Clay Minerals 35 (1). 291-302. CR - Moore, D. M., Reynolds, R. C. 1997. X-ray Diffraction and the Identification and Analysis of Clay Minerals, Oxford University Press, Oxford, United Kingdom, 400. CR - O'Connor, B., Chang, W. J. 1986. The amorphous character and particle size distributions of powders produced with the Micronizing Mill for quantitative x‐ray powder diffractometry. X‐Ray Spectrometry 15, 267-270. CR - Rietveld, H. M. 1967. Line Profiles of Neutron Powder-Diffraction Peaks for Structure Refinement. Acta Crystallographica 22, 151-152. CR - Rietveld, H. M. 1969. A Profile Refinement Method for Nuclear and Magnetic Structures. Journal of Applied Crystallography 2, 65-71. CR - Snyder, R. L., Bish, D. L. 1989. Quantitative Analysis. D. L. Bish and J. E. Post (Eds.), Modern Powder Diffraction. Reviews in Mineralogy 20, 101-144, Mineralogical Society of America, Washington DC, USA CR - Środoń, J., Drits, V. A., McCarty, D. K. 2001. Quantitative X-ray diffraction analysis of clay-bearing rocks from random preparations. Clays and Clay Minerals 49 (6), 514–528. UR - https://doi.org/10.19111/bulletinofmre.1819341 L1 - https://dergipark.org.tr/tr/download/article-file/5400703 ER -