title: Measuring naturally occurring uranium in soil and minerals by analysing the 352 keV gamma-ray peak of 214Pb using a NaI(Tl)-detector.
abstract: This article investigates the prospect of utilising the 351.9 keV gamma-ray of (214)Pb when determining the concentration of uranium. Soil samples were collected from various locations around South Africa and laboratory gamma ray spectra for each were obtained by means of a NaI(Tl)-detector (7.62×7.62 cm(2)). The potassium, uranium and thorium concentrations where extracted by analysing gamma ray peaks that are associated with these radionuclides. Two separate uranium concentrations were extracted; one by means of the (214)Pb decay and the other one by means of the (214)Bi decay. These uranium concentrations were compared in terms of accuracies and detection limits.
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Military Science, Stellenbosch University, South Africa. jab@ma2.sun.ac.za
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Bezuidenhout
keywords: Gamma ray spectroscopy; Naturally occurring radioactive material; Sodium iodide scintillation detector; Uranium