<b>The Rietveld method applied to the quantitative mineralogical and chemical analysis of a ferralitic soil</b>

Abstract

Summary The analysis of X‐ray diffraction (XRD) patterns by the Rietveld method was tested for characterizing quantitatively the mineralogical composition of a ferralitic soil from southern Mali. Quantitative analysis of two samples from this soil revealed kaolinite and quartz as major components and smaller amounts of haematite, goethite and anatase. Despite a strong overlap of the peaks, precise and reliable cell parameters and Al for Fe substitutions were determined. The quantitative results of the Rietveld refinement were verified by chemical analysis. This comparison revealed a strong influence of sample preparation on the quantitative mineralogical analysis by XRD.