Radon monitoring and early low background counting at the Sanford Underground Laboratory

Thomas, K J; Mei, D M; Heise, J; Durben, D; Salve, R

Title: Radon monitoring and early low background counting at the Sanford Underground Laboratory

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Abstract

Radon detectors have been deployed underground at the Sanford Underground Laboratory at the site of the former Homestake Mine in Lead, SD. Currently, no radon mitigation measures are in place in the underground environment, and the continuing evolution of the facility ventilation systems has led to significant variations in early airborne radon concentrations. The average radon concentration measured near the primary ventilation intake for the 4850-ft level (Yates shaft) is 391 Bq/m{sup 3}, based on approximately 146 days of data. The corresponding average radon concentration near the other main ventilation intake for the 4850-ft level (Ross shaft) is 440 Bq/m{sup 3} based on approximately 350 days of data. Measurements have also been collected near the 1250-ft level Ross shaft, with average radon concentrations at 180 Bq/m{sup 3}. Secondary factors that may increase the baseline radon level underground include the presence of iron oxide and moisture, which are known to enhance radon emanation. The results of the current radon monitoring program will be used for the planning of future measurements and any potential optimization of ventilation parameters for the reduction of radon in relevant areas underground.

Authors:: Thomas, K J; Mei, D M; Heise, J; Durben, D; Salve, R

Publication Date:: Wed Sep 01 00:00:00 EDT 2010

Research Org.:: Lawrence Berkeley National Lab. (LBNL), Berkeley, CA (United States)

Sponsoring Org.:: Earth Sciences Division

OSTI Identifier:: 1050676

Report Number(s):: LBNL-4899E
TRN: US201218%%886

DOE Contract Number:: DE-AC02-05CH11231

Resource Type:: Conference

Resource Relation:: Conference: Third Topical Workshop on Low Radioactivity Techniques, Sudbury, Ontario, Canada, August 28-29, 2010

Country of Publication:: United States

Language:: English

Subject:: 54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES; 58 GEOSCIENCES; IRON OXIDES; MITIGATION; MOISTURE; MONITORING; OPTIMIZATION; PLANNING; RADIOACTIVITY; RADON; VENTILATION; VENTILATION SYSTEMS

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                    Thomas, K J, Mei, D M, Heise, J, Durben, D, and Salve, R. Radon monitoring and early low background counting at the Sanford Underground Laboratory.  United States: N. p., 2010. 
        Web.

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                    Thomas, K J, Mei, D M, Heise, J, Durben, D, & Salve, R. Radon monitoring and early low background counting at the Sanford Underground Laboratory.  United States.

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                    Thomas, K J, Mei, D M, Heise, J, Durben, D, and Salve, R. 2010.  
        "Radon monitoring and early low background counting at the Sanford Underground Laboratory".  United States.  https://www.osti.gov/servlets/purl/1050676.

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@article{osti_1050676,

  title        = {Radon monitoring and early low background counting at the Sanford Underground Laboratory},

  author       = {Thomas, K J and Mei, D M and Heise, J and Durben, D and Salve, R},

  abstractNote = {Radon detectors have been deployed underground at the Sanford Underground Laboratory at the site of the former Homestake Mine in Lead, SD. Currently, no radon mitigation measures are in place in the underground environment, and the continuing evolution of the facility ventilation systems has led to significant variations in early airborne radon concentrations. The average radon concentration measured near the primary ventilation intake for the 4850-ft level (Yates shaft) is 391 Bq/m{sup 3}, based on approximately 146 days of data. The corresponding average radon concentration near the other main ventilation intake for the 4850-ft level (Ross shaft) is 440 Bq/m{sup 3} based on approximately 350 days of data. Measurements have also been collected near the 1250-ft level Ross shaft, with average radon concentrations at 180 Bq/m{sup 3}. Secondary factors that may increase the baseline radon level underground include the presence of iron oxide and moisture, which are known to enhance radon emanation. The results of the current radon monitoring program will be used for the planning of future measurements and any potential optimization of ventilation parameters for the reduction of radon in relevant areas underground.},

  doi          = {},

  url          = {https://www.osti.gov/biblio/1050676},
  journal      = {},
number       = ,

  volume       = ,

  place        = {United States},

  year         = {Wed Sep 01 00:00:00 EDT 2010},

  month        = {Wed Sep 01 00:00:00 EDT 2010}

}

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