Use of Rayleigh scatter for determining X-ray mass absorption coefficients.

X-ray absorption is directly related to the atomic number of the element present and scatter is inversely related to the atomic number of the elements making up the sample. X-ray mass absorption coefficient can be used to characterize the homogeneity and changes of soil with depth. Each soil studied had a characteristic line expressing the relationship between mass absorption coefficient and soil depth. The maximum value appeared to reflect the maximum of soil mass including weathering productions such as clay, Fe, and bases. The subsoil tends to have a higher capacity to absorb X- rays than either the topsoil or parent material.-from Authors