TRACE ELEMENTAL ANALYSIS OF SOUTH INDIAN NATURAL EAST COASTAL BEACH SAND DEPOSITS BY PROTON INDUCED X-RAY EMISSION

A selected number of South Indian East Coastal natural beach sand samples were studied with the nuclear analytical and non-destructive Proton Induced X-ray Emission (PIXE) technique. Twenty three elements, including Sc, Zr, Ga, Br, Mo, Nb, Ce, La, and Dy, were identified in these beach sands and may be useful in interpreting the various geochemical conditions and the probable cause of their inceptions in the beach sand matrix. The PIXE technique is a powerful method for quickly determining the elemental concentration of a substance. A 3 MeV proton beam was employed to excite the beach sand samples. The chemical constituents of Ilmenite, Monazite, and Sillimanite beach sands from different parts of the Andhra Pradesh, India were analyzed. In the present article, the usefulness and versatility of the PIXE technique for research in geo-scientific methodology was established.