ANALYSIS OF ORES AND MINERALS BY MEANS OF THE RADIOLUMINESCENCE INDUCED BY THE /cap alpha/-RADIATION OF POLONIUM-210

Journal Article · Fri Dec 01 00:00:00 EST 1961 · Atomnaya Energ.

OSTI ID:4811761

Plaksin, I N; Belyakov, M A; Starchik, L P

The great weight of the cathodic luminescence devices which are widely used for the analysis of minerals makes it inconvenient to employ them in the field. On the other hand, alpha -radiation sources, in particular Po/sup 210/ with a halflife of l38.3 days, present the great advantage of ease of handling; Po/sup 210/ emits only 1 gamma quantum for each 10/sup 5/ alpha particles, thus requiring little shielding. The visual analysis can be carried out very simply. A 1.8-curie source was used successfully for observing the radioluminescence of calcite, dolomite, fluorite, scheelite and beryl. Exposure to alpha -radiation induced a strong radioluminescence in diamonds and enabled the use of alpha -rays instead of gamma radiation for sorting them. The current generated was amplified by a factor of 10/sup 4/ to 10/sup 5/. The low penetration of this radiation simplifies the shielding problem. In certain cases, alpha -induced nuclear reactions may be used for analytical purposes. (TTT)

• Research Organization: Originating Research Org. not identified
• NSA Number: NSA-16-007505
• OSTI ID: 4811761
• Journal Information: Atomnaya Energ., Vol. Vol: 11; Other Information: Orig. Receipt Date: 31-DEC-62
• Country of Publication: Country unknown/Code not available
• Language: Russian

Related Subjects

CHEMISTRY
ALPHA PARTICLES
ALUMINUM SILICATES
BERYL
BERYLLIUM SILICATES
CALCITE
CALCIUM CARBONATES
CALCIUM FLUORIDES
CALCIUM OXIDES
DIAMONDS
DOLOMITE
FLUORITE
GAMMA RADIATION
LUMINESCENCE
MAGNESIUM CARBONATES
MINERALS
NUCLEAR REACTIONS
ORES
PARTICLE SOURCES
POLONIUM 210
QUALITATIVE ANALYSIS
SCHEELITE
SHIELDING
TUNGSTATES
TUNGSTEN OXIDES