In situ measurements of natural radioactivity in selected igneous rocks of the Opava Mountain region

In situ gamma-ray measurements of four igneous rocks were taken in the Opava Mountains (Eastern Sudetes, Poland). The activity of naturally occurring radionuclides was measured using a portable GX3020 gamma-ray spectrometry workstation. The activity concentrations of 40K varied from 914 ± 17 Bqkg-1 (gneiss, Kamienna Góra) to 2019 ± 37 Bqkg-1 (weathered granite, Sławniowice), while those of 232Th from 7.5 ± 0.6 Bqkg-1 (weathered granite, Sławniowice) to 68 ± 0.9 Bqkg-1 (migmatitic gneiss, Nadziejów). The activities associated with 238U decay series ranged from 10 ± 0.4 Bqkg-1 (weathered granite, Sławniowice) to 62 ± 1.6 Bqkg-1 (gneiss, Kamienna Góra). The results will be used in compiling Radiological Atlas of the Sudetes

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

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

Laboratory measurements of natural radioactivity in selected igneous rocks of the Opava Mountains region

The paper presents results of laboratory gamma–ray measurements of six igneous rocks from the Opava Mountains. The Opava Mountains are located in the Eastern Sudetes and represent their furthest eastern range. They run almost latitudinally along the Polish border with the Czech Republic. The Opava Mountains are situated mostly in the Czech Republic. Only a small fragment between Głuchołazy in the west and Prudnik in the east is situated in Poland (Janeczek et al. 1991) .  The study area is built of rocks of different ages and lithologies. The Opava Mountains belong to the western part of the Upper Silesia Block, which together with the Brno Block form a structure that is called the Brunovistulicum. The mountains consist of five structural stages: the Žulova Massif, the Desna Series, the Vbrna Series, the Andělská-Hora Formation and the Horn-Benešov Formation, which run longitudinally (Żaba et al. 2005). The activities of naturally occurring radionuclides were measured using a portable GX3020 gamma-ray workstation. The system is based on a high-purity germanium (HPGe) detector with 32% relative efficiency and energy resolutions of 0.8 keV at 122 keV and 1.7 keV at 1330 keV.). The activity concentrations of 40K varied from 519 Bqkg-1 (paragneiss, Głuchołazy/Mikulice) to 1559 Bqkg-1 (weathered granite, Sławniowice), while those of 228Ac (232Th series) from 7.2 Bqkg-1 (weathered granite, Sławniowice) to 70.6 Bqkg-1 (migmatitic gneiss, Nadziejów). The activities associated with 226Ra (238U series) ranged from 5.5 Bqkg-1 (weathered granite, Sławniowice) to 52.2 Bqkg-1 (gneiss, Kamienna Góra). Measured activity concentrations were compared with the average activity concentration of 40K, 228Ac (232Th) and 226Ra (238U) for similar types of rocks. For the authors’ knowledge, this paper presents the first experimental data concerning activity concentrations of primordial radionuclides in the igneous rocks in the Opava Mountains

Laboratory measurements of natural radioactivity in selected igneous rocks of the Opava Mountains region [abstract] /

Tyt. z nagłówka.Artykuł jest abstr. referatu z konferencji.Bibliogr. s. 73-74.The paper presents the results of the laboratory gamma-ray measurements of six igneous rocks from the Opava Mountains. The Opava Mountains are located in the Eastern Sudetes and represent their furthest eastern range. They run almost latitudinally along the Polish border with the Czech Republic. The Opava Mountains are mostly situated in the Czech Republic. Only a small fragment between Głuchołazy in the west and Prudnik in the east is situated in Poland (Janeczek et al. 1991). The study area is built of rocks of different ages and lithologies. The Opava Mountains belong to the western part of the Upper Silesia Block, which together with the Brno Block form a structure that is called the Brunovistulicum. The mountains consist of five structural stages: the Žulova Massif, the Desna Series, the Vrbno Series, the Andělská-Hora Formation and the Horn-Benešov Formation, which run longitudinally (Żaba et al. 2005). The activities of naturally occurring radionuclides were measured using a portable GX3020 gamma-ray workstation. The system is based on a high-purity germanium (HPGe) detector with a 32% relative efficiency and energy resolutions of 0.8 keV at 122 keV and 1.7 keV at 1330 keV. The activity concentrations of 40K varied from 519 Bq∙kg−1(paragneiss, Głuchołazy/Mikulice) to 1559 Bq∙kg−1(weathered granite, Sławniowice), while those of 228Ac (232Th series) from 7.2 Bq∙kg−1(weat hered granite, Sławniowice) to 70.6 Bq∙kg−1 (migmatitic gneiss, Nadziejów). The activities that were associated with 226Ra (238U series) ranged from 5.5 Bq∙kg−1(weathered granite, Sławniowice) to 52.2 Bq∙kg−1 (gneiss, Kamienna Góra). The measured activity concentrations were compared with the average activity concentration of 40K, 228Ac (232Th) and 226Ra (238U) for similar types of rocks reported in the world specialist literature. The average value of the activity concentrations of 40K for granites and gneisses equals 1000 Bq∙kg−1 (Van Schmus 1995, Eisenbud & Gesell 1997), which means that the measured value of granite in the Sławniowice quarry is significantly higher than the average one, whereas the activity concentration of paragneiss is almost two times lower than the average value of similar types of rocks. The activity concentrations of 228Ac (232Th) and 226Ra (238U) in measured rocks are comparable to the average values (70 Bq∙kg−1 and 40 Bq∙kg−1 respectively (Van Schmus 1995, Eisenbud & Gesell 1997). Only the activity concentrations of granite in the Sławniowice quarry are considerably lower than the average values for the typical ones because it is strongly weathered. The aim of this paper is to show the first experimental data concerning the activity concentrations of primordial radionuclides in the igneous rocks in the Opava Mountains.Dostępny również w formie drukowanej.KEYWORDS: stage, mountain, lithology