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Title: Comparative evaluation of radon measurement techniques for uranium exploration. National Uranium Resource Evaluation

Technical Report ·
DOI:https://doi.org/10.2172/6410586· OSTI ID:6410586

The measurement of radon (Rn-222) in soil gas aids in uranium exploration by indicating indirectly the presence of buried ore bodies. Intrest in this exploration methodology has led to the development of various radon measurement techniques which detect the presence of soil-gas radon, both directly and/or indirectly. To establish the relative merit of these new radon measurement techniques, Bendix Field Engineering Corporation has tested a variety of them using existing uranium occurrences located in the Red Desert area of south-central Wyoming. The following soil-gas radon measurement techniques were tested: a prototype microprocessor-controlled emanometer; a commercially available emanometer; alpha-track detectors equipped with two types of detector material (carbonate and nitrate), and equipped with and without membranes for thoron separation; radon adsorption on activated charcoal; and partial extraction of lead-210 from soil samples. These techniques were compared for relative sensitivity, variability, signal-to-background contrast, and correlation. The radon measurements obtained were also correlated to the equivalent uranium in soil, as determined radiometrically. From approximately 34 replicate samples, the variability associated with a technique was lowest with the TSA emanometer (13%). The EDA emanometer showed 31% and Track Etch carbonate/open cup (C/O) 27%. The best signal-to-background ratio, 2.55, was obtained by the EDA emanometer; the Track Etch nitrate/members cup (N/M) was a close second with 2.45. All signal-to-background ratios were greater than 2.0 except for the TSA emanometer with 1.87. All the techniques measured a sufficient number of anomalous values to locate the subsurface ore body.

Research Organization:
Bendix Field Engineering Corp., Grand Junction, CO (United States)
DOE Contract Number:
AC13-76GJ01664
OSTI ID:
6410586
Report Number(s):
GJBX-13(83); ON: DE83009917
Resource Relation:
Other Information: Portions are illegible in microfiche products
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English