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- Bruker Tracer 5 portable XRF (pXRF) with 5 application calibrations (and associated reference check samplesamples):
- GeoExploration (CS-M2, Geo/Soil sample)
- Limestone (Limestone square)
- Mudrock (Air) (Mudrock square)
- Mudrock (He) (Mudrock square)
- Precious Metals 2 (Silver disk)
- Color touch screen
- AC power adaptor
- 3 Lithium ion batteries and battery charger
- 3mm and 8mm collimators
- Filters for Cu, 200µm/Ti, 25µm/Al, 300µm (black) and Al, 76µm (orange)
- Prolene exam windows
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The Tracer 5 pXRF can be run either independently or through an attached pc laptop. The Bruker RemoteCTRL software on the laptop mirrors what is present on the screen of the Tracer5 and all functions are the same. If the connection between the device and the laptop is interrupted, there is no loss of data.
Note: The batteries cannot be 'hot swapped'. If a battery is running low, either shut off the Tracer, switch batteries and power it back on again, or plug the AC power in, change the battery, and then unplug the device again.
Application and Settings
The current application can be changed by selecting ‘Application’ 
, choosing a different application type and selecting ‘OK’. This device has six 5 applications installed (See Appendix for details). The best application for our purposes is GeoExploration. Each application has different scanning parameters which preferentially pick up some elements better than others. The device will keep the chosen application until manually changed.
Some application settings, such as beam scan duration, can be adjusted by selecting ‘Settings’ 
on the main display screen. Select ‘Ok’ when finished adjusting the following settingsThree settings can be adjusted (Fig. XX):
- Duration: This screen will display the number of phases used by the current application. The time in seconds spent on each phase can be adjusted or set to unlimited (ending when the trigger is released). Note: The longer the scan time, the greater the accuracy and precision and the lower the error. For geological samples, 1 minute per phase or longer is not uncommon, but not required.
- First Result/Test: This is the number of seconds before results will be shown on the display once a measurement has been triggered.
- Trigger Active: The trigger can be set to ‘Auto’ or ‘Manual’ by selecting this button.
- Auto: The measurement proceeds by pressing and releasing the trigger. Preferred.
- Manual: The trigger must be pressed for the duration of the measurement. If the trigger is released at any time during the measurement, measuring will stop.
Figure XX. Settings display screen.
Select ‘Ok’ when finished adjusting or 'Cancel' to return to the previous screen.
Making a Measurement
Edit Sample Information
On the main display, click the ‘Edit Info’ button in the middle of the bottom row of buttons. This screen (Figure 4) is where the sample information is entered. All fields in the right column are editable by double clicking and should be reviewed and changed for each sample:
- Sample Type:
- Standard – a powdered standard in a sample cup
- SHLF – a measurement taken directly on a section half or of a piece from a section half
- PWDR – a powdered sample in a sample cup
- Discrete – for any other samples
- Expedition: The current expedition, example 397.
- Site and Hole: The site and hole the sample was taken from, example: U1586A.
- Core/Section: The core number with letter indicating the core type and the section in that core that is being measured or that the sample was taken from, example: 1H/6. If measuring a standard, enter the standard name, example: BCR 2 or BHVO 2.
- TextID: The unique sample number for every sample. This is found on the lower right corner of the typical sample label, example: SHLF11754181. Note: If the device is connected to the laptop and using Bruker RemoteCtrl software, use the scanner to enter the TextID. If measuring a standard, use the information from the appropriate QAQC label provided. If a standard does not have a QAQC label, leave this field blank.
- Top Offset (cm):
- For a section half or sample from a section half (discrete, unaltered piece), this is the distance from the top of the core section, example: 34 or 101.5 (Do not put a range, just the beginning number of the measured area or sample).
- For powdered samples and standards, use 0.
- Comment: Use this to provide any additional information, such as a physical description for reference or to indicate a replicate measurement.
Figure 5. Click The Edit Info display screen.
Select 'OK' in the lower left corner of the screen. The display will return to the main display screen.
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Execute a Scan
There are 2 ways to initiate a scan:
If the device is connected to the laptop 
select ‘Trigger Pull (F6)’ along the top of the RemoteCtrl program window or press F6. The measurement will begin and continue until finished. Note: If the device is moved away from the sample, the measurement will stop!
If you are not connected the laptop press the device to the sample, the proximity sensor will detect a sample and the device will be armed for measurement. Press and release the trigger. The measurement will begin and continue until finished. Note: If the device is moved away from the sample, the measurement will stop!
A beep will sound when the device has finished measuring and the device can be moved away from the sample or repositioned for the next measurement. At this point, the previous measurement’s data has been stored and added to the results file.
- Login to the computer using the login information on top of the computer keyboard.
- First, turn on the instrument. To do this press the button on top of the device screen and hold it for a few seconds (Figure 1).
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6. Click load and the data will be exported to excel and should look like Figure 19.
Figure 19. Exported file from pXRF device.
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Figure 19. Exported file from pXRF device.
Setting Date & Time
Note: If the device is powered off for a significant period of time, it is possible for the internal battery to discharge. The only affect of this will be that the date and time are reset. If the device has not been used for an expedition, check that the date and time are correct before proceeding to measurements.
To set the time, select 
on the main display screen. Then select 
and then select Date/Time from the available list. A stylus or fine pointed tool (non-metal, such as a wooden applicator stick) is helpful to access the small buttons involved in setting the date and time.
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Figure XX. The date and time setup screen.
Appendix
Application Calibration Information
GeoExploration/GeoMining
Limestone
Precious Metals 2
Mudrock 2 Air
Mudrock 2 He
LIMS Component Table
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