A Micro-XRF Study of the Element Distribution on the Growth Front of Mussel Shell (Species of Unio Crassus Retzius)

Abstract. Micro-XRF spectrometry was used in a study of minor and trace metal content of the hard parts of historical and contemporary mussels from Tisza River at Szeged, Hungary. Synchrotron radiation measurements at LURE, Orsay, France and capillary-based laboratory (X-ray tube excitation) measurements were performed on the shell samples. The distribution of trace elements was determined along the growth line in the cross section of the shell. This application of micro-XRF for the analysis of mollusc shells in order to record historical trends demonstrates the power of this technique for extracting elemental information. The comparison of the X-ray spectra showed the distinct advantage of synchrotron measurement over capillary based laboratory measurement.