"The most obvious application of XRD analysis in geothermal exploration is the identification of fine-grained hydrothermal alteration minerals in powdered samples.This can be applied to the identification of new minerals and to answering specific questions concerning the chemical makeup and atomic structure of crystalline substances Single-crystal X-ray diffraction is used most commonly for determination of unit cell dimensions and the position of atoms within a crystal lattice. More specifically, the technique can be used to distinguish between different clays and mixed layer clays that are optically similar, but form from distinctly different weathering and hydrothermal alteration processes. X-ray powder diffraction can also be applied to the identification of fine-grained minerals. Additional uses include detailed characterization of crystalline samples, determination of unit cell dimensions, and quantitative determination of modal amounts of minerals in a sample. A pure, finely ground, and homogenized sample is required for determination of the bulk composition. X-ray powder diffraction is widely used in geology, environmental science, material science, and engineering to rapidly identify unknown crystalline substances (typically in less than 20 minutes). One of two primary types of XRD analysis (X-ray powder diffraction and single-crystal XRD) is commonly applied to samples to obtain specific information about the crystalline material under investigation. The technique was pioneered by Max von Laue in 1912, who discovered that crystalline substances act as a diffraction grating for X-ray wavelengths similar to the atomic-scale plane spacing in a crystal lattice. X-Ray Diffraction (XRD) is a laboratory-based technique commonly used for identification of crystalline materials and analysis of unit cell dimensions. Photo from the Australian Microscopy & Microanalysis Research Facility Website, last updated February 22, 2013." cannot be used as a page name in this wiki. [[File:xrd_machine.jpg|thumb|500px|center|Photo of an X-Ray Diffraction machine. Single-crystal X-ray diffraction is used most commonly for determination of unit cell dimensions and the position of atoms within a crystal lattice.'"`UNIQ-ref-00000007-QINU`"' This can be applied to the identification of new minerals and to answering specific questions concerning the chemical makeup and atomic structure of crystalline substances X-ray powder diffraction is widely used in geology, environmental science, material science, and engineering to rapidly identify unknown crystalline substances (typically in less than 20 minutes).'"`UNIQ-ref-00000005-QINU`"' A pure, finely ground, and homogenized sample is required for determination of the bulk composition. The technique was pioneered by Max von Laue in 1912, who discovered that crystalline substances act as a diffraction grating for X-ray wavelengths similar to the atomic-scale plane spacing in a crystal lattice.'"`UNIQ-ref-00000003-QINU`"' One of two primary types of XRD analysis (X-ray powder diffraction and single-crystal XRD) is commonly applied to samples to obtain specific information about the crystalline material under investigation. "X-Ray Diffraction (XRD) is a laboratory-based technique commonly used for identification of crystalline materials and analysis of unit cell dimensions.