Methods for identification and verification

Apparatus and methods in which one or more taggants that are intrinsically located-or extrinsically placed-in an object, such as a personal identification device like a badge. The taggants are detected by x-ray fluorescence analysis to identify or verify the object or its point of manufacture. The taggants are manufactured as part of the article or the taggant is placed into a coating, label, or otherwise embedded within the object for the purpose of later verifying the presence or absence of these elements by x-ray fluorescence, thus determining the unique elemental composition of the taggant within the object.