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Identification and raw material evaluation

For complex materials (e.g. cement powder, sands, clays), the powder pattern will be correspondingly complex, however, it will be characteristic of the material. Although the pattern cannot be analysed for each of the individual components, similar materials will always exhibit similar patterns. The possible usefulness of different clays as raw materials for cement or brick manufacture can often be quickly determined by comparison of their diffraction patterns with that of an acceptable clay.

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