DETERMINATION OF 238U, 232Th AND 40K ACTIVITY IN THE ROCKS USED IN CIVIL ENGINEERING FROM THE MALÉ KARPATY MTS. (SLOVAKIA)
Peter ANDRÁŠ1,2, Vojtech DIRNER2 & Andrea HORŇÁKOVÁ3
1Faculty of Natural Sciences, Matej Bel University, Tajovského 40, 974 01 Banská Bystrica, andras@savbb.sk
2 VŠB-Technical University of Ostrava, 17. listopadu, 15/2172, 708 33 Ostrava – Poruba, vojtech.dirner@vsb.cz
3 Slovak Environmental Agency, Tajovského 10, 040 01 Košice, andrea.hornakova@sazp.sk
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Abstract
The distribution of natural radionuclides in the main rock-types: granodiorites (granites), biotite-gneisses, black shales and amphibolites from the Malé Karpaty Mts. complex was studied in samples collected from two boreholes. The samples were analyzed by means of gamma-ray spectrometry.
The concentrations of 238U, 232Th and 40K were found to be within the range of 0.091 – 37.800 mg/kg (238U), 0.534 – 13.234 mg/kg (232Th), and 0.116 – 5.162 mg/kg (40K). The highest average 238U concentration was in black shale, highest average 232Th concentration in granodiorite-granite and highest average 40K concentration in granodiorite - granite as well. Activities of 238U were determined within the range of 1.092 – 48.960 Bq/kg (with exception of one anomalous value – 453.6 Bq/kg), activities of 232Th within the range of 2.189 – 54.298 Bq/kg and activities of 40K within the range of 30.933 – 1,376.499 Bq/kg. It is considered that the source of 238U and 232Th (and partially also of 40K) is in the granitoide intrusion. Uranium was during the metamorphic process mobilised from granitoides to the black shales.
The concentrations of 238U, 232Th and 40K were found to be within the range of 0.091 – 37.800 mg/kg (238U), 0.534 – 13.234 mg/kg (232Th), and 0.116 – 5.162 mg/kg (40K). The highest average 238U concentration was in black shale, highest average 232Th concentration in granodiorite-granite and highest average 40K concentration in granodiorite - granite as well. Activities of 238U were determined within the range of 1.092 – 48.960 Bq/kg (with exception of one anomalous value – 453.6 Bq/kg), activities of 232Th within the range of 2.189 – 54.298 Bq/kg and activities of 40K within the range of 30.933 – 1,376.499 Bq/kg. It is considered that the source of 238U and 232Th (and partially also of 40K) is in the granitoide intrusion. Uranium was during the metamorphic process mobilised from granitoides to the black shales.
The concentrations and consequently the total activities of 238U, 232Th and 40K in the studied rock samples exceed the permitted limit values for building materials. It is possible to recommend their utilisation only for external purposes.
Keywords:
- uranium
- thorium
- potassium
- building
- material
- radioactivity
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© 2011 by the author(s). Licensee CJEES, Carpathian Association of Environment and Earth Sciences. This article is an open access article distributed under the terms and conditions of the Creative Commons Attribution (CC BY) license (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/).
How to cite
Peter ANDRÁŠ, Vojtech DIRNER & Andrea HORŇÁKOVÁ (2011). DETERMINATION OF 238U, 232Th AND 40K ACTIVITY IN THE ROCKS USED IN CIVIL ENGINEERING FROM THE MALÉ KARPATY MTS. (SLOVAKIA)
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