X-Ray ?uorescence analysis (XRF) has developed into a well-established multi-elemental analysis technique with a very wide ?eld of practical app- cations, especially those requiring nondestructive analytical methods. Over a long period of time, steady progress of XRF was made, both methodological and instrumental. Within the last decade, however, advancements in te- nology, software development, and methodologies for quanti?cation have p- vided an impetus to XRF research and application, leading to striking new improvements. The recent technological advances, including table-top inst- ments...