Variability of track selection approaches and progress for a new etching
protocol for apatite-fission tracks
Abstract
We report a new series of step-etch experiments to reveal the influence
of microscopy technique on track selection bias. Two different aliquots
of induced tracks in Durango apatite were etched for 10-15-20-25-30s and
for 20-25-30s in 5.5M HNO3 at 21°C. Three different track selection
criteria were applied after the initial etch step of the etching
procedure: (1) all tracks with reasonable measurability under
transmitted and reflected light switch with 100x objective and 2.5X
optovar magnification; (2) ”fully etched” tracks under transmitted
light with 100x objective; and (3) ”fully etched” tracks under
reflected light with 100x objective. Approach 1 was applied to both
aliquots and the approaches 2 and 3 to the latter aliquot. Comparing the
mean track lengths, approaches 2 and 3 result in similar values over all
experiments, while approach 1 provides a ~0.4 μm higher
in the first aliquot and ~0.3 μm lower in the second
aliquot than approach 2 and 3 due to higher and lower variations of
effective etch times. Comparing the c-axis angles, in the 0-30° range
approach 3 provides a severely reduced fraction of tracks due to their
weak appearance under reflected light. Furthermore, approach 2 provides
~%14 lower track densities comparing with approaches 1
and 3. We recommend using both transmitted and reflected light during
entire track selection and measurement procedures. We are working to
develop a new 2+-step etching procedure, where tracks are located after
10s of etching but measured after a second 10s etch step, resulting in
better-controlled etching times while reducing the bias associated with
analyst choice. Furthermore, this two-step etching procedure can be
iterated for more etch-steps, by identifying newly-appeared tracks after
each etch step and etching them for 10s more, to increase the number of
measured tracks while maintaining consistent selection criteria.