A radiometric and petrographic interpretation of discrepancies on uranium content in samples collected at Alte Madonie Mounts region (Sicily, Italy)

作者：Lanzo G; Rizzo S; Tomarchio E^*

来源：Journal of Environmental Radioactivity, 2014, 129: 73-79.

DOI：10.1016/j.jenvrad.2013.12.008

• Environmental radioactivity
• Radiation monitoring
• Gamma-ray spectrometry
• X-ray fluorescence
• X-ray diffractometry

The main goal of this work is to evaluate a correlation between anomalous Uranium (U) content and petrographic features of some soil and rock samples collected at Alte Madonie Mounts region (North-central Sicily, Italy). A total of 41 samples of selected soils and rocks were collected, powdered, dried and sealed in %26quot;Marinelli%26quot; beakers for 20 days before the measurement to ensure that radioactive equilibrium between Ra-226 and Bi-214 was reached. Gamma-ray spectrometric analysis was used to quantify radioactivity concentrations. Mineralogical and chemical features of the samples were determined by X-ray Fluorescence (XRF), X-ray Diffractometry (XRD), Attenuated Total Reflection-Fourier Transform Infrared (ATR-FTIR) and Scanning Electron Microscope - Energy Dispersive Spectrometry (SEM-EDS) analyses. %26lt;br%26gt;The average values of concentrations of Ra-226, Ac-228 and K-40 were respectively 30, 17 and 227 Bq kg(-1) while the greatest values were 134, 59 and 748 Bq kg(-1). Linear relationships were observed between Ra-226, Ac-228 and K-40 concentrations: the activities of Ra-226 and Ac-228 were comparable, while those of K-40 were about 10 times greater. An exception was highlighted for a group of samples where Ra-226 activities were much higher than expectations. Chemical compositions and mineralogical features of the samples have made it possible to justify these anomalies.

• 出版日期2014-3