A shielded X-ray radiation apparatus is provided comprising an X-ray source, an X-ray attenuation shield including an elongate cavity to house the X-ray source and incorporating a region to accommodate a sample, a neutron attenuation shield, and a gamma attenuation shield. The neutron attenuation shield is situated adjacent to and substantially surrounds the X-ray attenuation shield and the gamma attenuation shield is adjacent to and substantially surrounds the neutron attenuation shield. In some embodiments a removable sample insertion means is provided to insert samples into the elongate cavity and which is composed of adjacent blocks of material, each respective block having a thickness and a composition which substantially matches the thickness and a composition of one of the X-ray attenuation, neutron attenuation and gamma-ray attenuation shields.

A method and system are disclosed to determine a concentration of one or more target elements in a sample, using gamma activation analysis comprising: simultaneously irradiating the sample and a reference material containing at least two reference elements X-rays, detecting deactivation gamma-rays from the irradiated sample and the irradiated reference material; determining the concentration of the or each target element in the sample by correcting the number of detected deactivation gamma-rays from any of the or each target element present in the irradiated sample based on the number of detected deactivation gamma-rays from the at least two reference elements, wherein the at least two reference elements have a variation in activation rate over a pre-defined X-ray end-point energy range which differs from one another.

A shielded X-ray radiation apparatus is provided comprising an X-ray source, an X-ray attenuation shield including an elongate cavity to house the X-ray source and incorporating a region to accommodate a sample, a neutron attenuation shield, and a gamma attenuation shield. The neutron attenuation shield is situated adjacent to and substantially surrounds the X-ray attenuation shield and the gamma attenuation shield is adjacent to and substantially surrounds the neutron attenuation shield. In some embodiments a removable sample insertion means is provided to insert samples into the elongate cavity and which is composed of adjacent blocks of material, each respective block having a thickness and a composition which substantially matches the thickness and a composition of one of the X-ray attenuation, neutron attenuation and gamma-ray attenuation shields.

THIS INVENTION relates to a method of or system for detecting presence of diamond in an object. The method comprises receiving classification data associated with photons emitted from object as a result of positron annihilation due to irradiation of the object with photons of a predetermined energy at which giant dipole resonance (GDR) occurs due to a nuclear reaction between the photons and carbon. The method then comprises the step of determining whether or not the object is potentially a diamond or diamondiferous by processing the received classification data with a trained machine-based learning classifier. The system typically implements the method described herein.

The present invention includes an apparatus for preparing samples for measurement by x-ray fluorescence spectrometry. The apparatus comprises a plate having one or more holes passing through the plate. The holes are covered by a film on one side of the plate. The holes are less than 500 micrometers across in one dimension where the film covers the holes. The film is translucent to x-rays. The present invention also includes an apparatus for preparing samples for measurement by x-ray fluorescence spectrometry. The apparatus comprises a plate having one or more holes passing through the plate. The holes are covered on one side of the plate by a detachable cover forming a water-tight seal against the plate. The cover is substantially free of the elements osmium, yttrium, iridium, phosphorus, zirconium, platinum, gold, niobium, mercury, thallium, molybdenum, sulfur, lead, bismuth, technetium, ruthenium, chlorine, rhodium, palladium, argon, silver, and thorium. The holes are less than about 500 micrometers across in one dimension where the cover covers the holes. The present invention also includes a method for preparing samples for measurement by x-ray fluorescence spectrometry. The method comprises providing a solution of with less than 10 micromolar solute and a volume of between about 2 microliters and about 2 milliliters. The solution is concentrated and analyzed using x-ray fluorescence spectrometry.

THIS INVENTION relates to a method of or system for detecting presence of diamond in an object. The method comprises receiving classification data associated with photons emitted from object as a result of positron annihilation due to irradiation of the object with photons of a predetermined energy at which giant dipole resonance (GDR) occurs due to a nuclear reaction between the photons and carbon. The method then comprises the step of determining whether or not the object is potentially a diamond or diamondiferous by processing the received classification data with a trained machine-based learning classifier. The system typically implements the method described herein.

A mobile transport and shielding apparatus, which holds an x-ray analyzer for transport between operating sites, and also serves as a shielded, operational station for holding the x-ray analyzer during operation thereof. The x-ray analyzer is removably insertable into the apparatus and is operable either within the mobile transport and shielding apparatus, or outside of the apparatus. The apparatus may provide means to control, power, cool, and/or charge the x-ray analyzer during operation of the analyzer; and also means to transport the analyzer (e.g., a handle).

The present invention includes an apparatus for preparing samples for measurement by x-ray fluorescence spectrometry. The apparatus comprises a plate having one or more holes passing through the plate. The holes are covered by a film on one side of the plate. The holes are less than 500 micrometers across in one dimension where the film covers the holes. The film is translucent to x-rays. The present invention also includes an apparatus for preparing samples for measurement by x-ray fluorescence spectrometry. The apparatus comprises a plate having one or more holes passing through the plate. The holes are covered on one side of the plate by a detachable cover forming a water-tight seal against the plate. The cover is substantially free of the elements osmium, yttrium, iridium, phosphorus, zirconium, platinum, gold, niobium, mercury, thallium, molybdenum, sulfur, lead, bismuth, technetium, ruthenium, chlorine, rhodium, palladium, argon, silver, and thorium. The holes are less than about 500 micrometers across in one dimension where the cover covers the holes. The present invention also includes a method for preparing samples for measurement by x-ray fluorescence spectrometry. The method comprises providing a solution of with less than 10 micromolar solute and a volume of between about 2 microliters and about 2 milliliters. The solution is concentrated and analyzed using x-ray fluorescence spectrometry.