Skip to main content
OSTI.GOVU.S. Department of Energy Office of Scientific and Technical Information
U.S. Department of Energy
Office of Scientific and Technical Information
 

Monte Carlo simulations of the gamma-ray exposure rates of common rocks

Journal Article · · Journal of Environmental Radioactivity
 [1];  [2];  [3]
  1. Univ. of Nevada, Las Vegas, NV (United States). Geoscience Dept.; National Security Technologies, Las Vegas, NV (United States)
  2. National Security Technologies, Las Vegas, NV (United States)
  3. Univ. of Nevada, Las Vegas, NV (United States). Geoscience Dept.
+ Show Author Affiliations

Monte Carlo simulations have been performed to model the gamma ray emission and attenuation properties of common rocks. In geologic materials, 40K, 238U, and 232Th are responsible for most gamma ray production. If the concentration of these radioelements and attenuation factors such as degree of water saturation are known, an estimate of the gamma-ray exposure rate can be made. The results show that there are no significant differences in gamma-ray screening between major rock types. If the total number of radionuclide atoms are held constant then the major controlling factor is density of the rock. Finally, the thickness of regolith or soil overlying rock can be estimated by modeling the exposure rate if the radionuclide contents of both materials are known.

Research Organization:
National Security Technologies, LLC. (NSTec), Mercury, NV (United States)
Sponsoring Organization:
USDOE National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA)
DOE Contract Number:
AC52-06NA25946
OSTI ID:
1334541
Report Number(s):
DOE/NV/25946--2764
Journal Information:
Journal of Environmental Radioactivity, Journal Name: Journal of Environmental Radioactivity Journal Issue: Part 2 Vol. 166; ISSN 0265-931X
Publisher:
Elsevier
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English

References (7)

Uranium and other trace elements’ distribution in Korean granite: implications for the influence of iron oxides on uranium migration journal July 2008
Compositions of modern dust and surface sediments in the Desert Southwest, United States journal March 2009
Redistribution of uranium and thorium series isotopes during isovolumetric weathering of granite journal June 1984
Gamma ray attenuation in the soils of Northern Ireland, with special reference to peat journal January 2013
Update of 40K and 226Ra and 232Th series γ-to-dose conversion factors for soil journal December 2014
Trace element mobility during spheroidal weathering of basalts and andesites in Hawaii and Guatemala journal December 2003
Response of 3″ × 3″ NaI(Tl) detectors to terrestrial gamma radiation journal October 1974

Similar Records

Uranium and thorium decay series disequilibria in young volcanic rocks
Thesis/Dissertation · Thu Dec 31 23:00:00 EST 1987 · OSTI ID:5470609
Exposure buildup factors of UO{sub 2} using the Monte Carlo method
Journal Article · Thu Oct 31 23:00:00 EST 1996 · Nuclear Technology · OSTI ID:413394

Related Subjects

46 INSTRUMENTATION RELATED TO NUCLEAR SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
58 GEOSCIENCES
Exposure rate coefficients
aerial gamma ray survey
geology
naturally occurring radionuclides