Elemental X-Ray Mapping of Agglutinated Foraminifer Tests: A Nondestructive Technique for Determining Compositional Characteristics

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Abstract
The composition of agglutinated foraminiferal tests vary remarkably in response to local substrate characteristics, physiochemical properties of the water column and species-dependent selectivity of test components. We have employed a technique that combines a scanning electron microscope with an energy dispersive X-ray spectrometer system to identify major and minor elemental constituents of agglutinated foraminiferal walls. As a sample is bombarded with a beam of high energy electrons, X-rays are generated that are characteristic of the elements present. As a result, X-ray density maps can be produced for each of several elements present in the tests of agglutinated foraminifers.

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