Natural radioactivity in granites and gneisses of the Opava Mountains (Poland): a comparison between laboratory and in situ measurements

Abstract

The natural radioactivities of five characteristic igneous rocks of the eastern foreland of the Opava Mountains (Eastern Sudetes, Poland), obtained in the laboratory and under in situ conditions, are presented. The activity concentrations of 232Th, 238U, and 40K were measured using an HPGe gamma-ray spectrometry system. The ranges of the activity concentrations of 232Th were 7–71 Bq kg−1 in the laboratory and 6–68 Bq kg−1 for the in situ measurements. For 238U, the ranges of the activity concentrations were 5–52 Bq kg−1 in the laboratory and 9–48 Bq kg−1 for the in situ measurements, and for 40K, the ranges were 520–1560 Bq kg−1 in the laboratory and 537–1700 Bq kg−1 for the in situ measurements. These determined activity concentrations were compared with the average activity concentrations of the radionuclides in similar types of rocks and with data from the Sudetes available in the literature. No significant differences were found between the in situ and laboratory measurements.

Comparative study of precise measurements of natural radionuclides and radiation dose using in-situ and laboratory γ-ray spectroscopy techniques

“…This study furthermore showed the better agreement of measured 226 Ra( 238 U), 232 Th, and 40 K values with the in-situ and laboratory HPGe detectors than Dźaluk et al . 20 who used in-situ and laboratory HPGe detectors to measure 226 Ra( 238 U), 232 Th, and 40 K in granite in Poland. This is due to the approach employed in this study of validating the homogeneity of the distribution of natural radionuclides in the selected sites using the car-borne system, the flatness of the site, and avoiding measurements on rainy days.…”

Natural radioactivity of rocks from the historic Jeroným Mine in the Czech Republic

“…The block also hosts metalliferous deposits of tin, cobalt, copper and bismuth. Laboratory measurements of a similar weathered granite from the Sławniowice quarry in the Opava Mountains (Poland) gave significantly higher 40 K activity values of 1560 Bq kg −1 (Dżaluk et al 2018).…”

“…Similar to 40 K values, the average 232 Th activity for the Jeroným Mine granites resembled average values within uncertainties for Izera Block granites (29 Bq kg −1 ) as measured by in situ methods(Malczewski et al 2005). Granites from the easternmost part of the Sudetes (Opava Mountains) gave 232 Th values ranging from 7 (weathered granite) to 54 Bq kg −1 (granite)(Dżaluk et al 2018). Papadopoulos et al (2016) reported 232 Th activities ranging from 0.14 to 241 Bq kg −1 with a mean value of 90 Bq kg −1 .…”

Natural Radioactivity of Rocks from the Historic Jeroným Mine in the Czech Republic

“…Similar to 40 K values, the average 232 Th activity for the Jeroným Mine granites resembled average values within uncertainties for Izera Block granites (29 Bq kg -1 ) as measured by in situ methods (Malczewski et al 2005). Granites from the easternmost part of the Sudetes (Opava Mountains) gave 232 Th values ranging from 7 (weathered granite) to 54 Bq kg -1 (granite) (Dżaluk et al, 2018) . Papadopoulos et al (2016) reported 232 Th activities ranging from 0.14 to 241 Bq kg -1 with a mean value of 90 Bq kg -1 .…”

“…40 K activity values of 1560 Bq kg -1(Dżaluk et al, 2018) Papadopoulos et al (2016). reported40 K activity values ranging from 148 Bq kg -1 to 2518 Bq kg -1 with a mean value of 1097 Bq kg -1 for 70 samples of granites collected from plutons in western Anatolia(Turkey).…”