Synchrotron X-ray diffraction images are increasingly used to characterize not only structural and microstructural features of polycrystalline materials, but also crystal preferred orientation distributions. Diffraction data can be analyzed quantitatively and efficiently with the Rietveld method and here the detailed procedure is reported from the experiment to the calibration of the two-dimensional detector and full analysis of the sample. In particular, we emphasize the advantage of doing the calibration inside the Rietveld least-squares fitting instead of a preliminary graphical calibration. Then the procedure is described to quantify crystal preferred orientations with the Rietveld method implemented in software “Materials Analysis Using Diffraction”. The process is illustrated for a US “nickel” coin, a 75 at.% copper 25 at.% nickel alloy with face-centered cubic structure and a strong cube texture.

Anisotropy of elastic properties in clay‐rich sedimentary rocks has been of long‐standing interest. These rocks are cap rocks of oil and gas reservoirs, as well as seals for carbon sequestration. Elasticity of shales has been approached by direct velocity measurements and by models based on microstructures. Here we are revisiting the classical Kimmeridge shale studied by Hornby (1998) by first quantifying microstructural features such as phase volume fractions, grain shapes and grain orientations, and pore distributions with advanced analytical methods and then using this information in different models to explain bulk elastic properties. It is shown that by application of a self‐consistent algorithm based on Eshelby's (1957) model of inclusions in a homogeneous medium, it is possible to explain most experimental elastic constants, though some discrepancies remain which may be due to the interpretation of experimental data. Using a differential effective medium approach, an almost perfect agreement with experimental stiffness coefficients can be obtained, though the physical basis of this method may be questionable. The influence of single crystal elastic properties, grain shapes, preferred orientation, and volume and shapes of pores on elastic properties of shale is explored.

Synchrotron X-ray diffraction images are increasingly used to characterize crystallographic preferred orientation distributions (texture) of fine-grained polyphase materials. Diffraction images can be analyzed quantitatively with the Rietveld method as implemented in the software package Materials Analysis Using Diffraction. Here we describe the analysis procedure for diffraction images collected with high energy X-rays for a complex, multiphase shale, and for those collected in situ in diamond anvil cells at high pressure and anisotropic stress.

The paper reports on the results of complex investigations into the physical properties of synthetic quartz single crystals and quartz powders in the temperature range of the α-β transition with the...