Dalheim, Peggy Ann2021-03-232021-03-231977-09https://hdl.handle.net/1794/2611999 pagesThe purpose of this project was twofold - to synthesize several electron microprobe glass standards in the system: SiO2 - Al 2O 3 -- Cao -- MgO, and to utilize these standards in empirically calculating a set of binary correlation coefficients for use in the Bence-Albee data reduction method. Ten standards were prepared using the four end member oxides in coarse, crystalline form as starting materials (99.9+% purity). The careful synthesis and extensive analysis of the standards insured that they are homogeneous with compositions known to better than 5xl0- 4 oxide weight percent. The X-ray intensities measured for Si, Al, Ca and Mg in the standards and the oxides, plus the known compositions of the glasses provided the information necessary to empirically derive the set of binary correlation coefficients ("alpha factors") within the SiO2 - Al2O3 - CaO - MgO system.enCreative Commons BY-NC-ND 4.0-USThesis / Dissertation