Authors:
Nodar Kekelidze, Teimuraz Jakhutashvili, Bezhan Tutberidze, Eremia Tulashvili, Mariam Akhalkatsishvili and Lela Mtsariashvili |
Abstract:
This study investigates the distribution of natural and technogenic radionuclides in rock samples within the territory of the Shida Kartli region, which is located within the tectonic structure of the Transcaucasian intermountain area. This area is characterised by a complex geological structure, and the radioactivity of soil and rocks has not been investigated from a practical perspective. Eighteen samples of rocks of various types, including magmatic, sedimentary and metamorphic, were investigated with the gamma-spectroscopic method. Up to 21 naturally occurring radionuclides and one technogenic radionuclide were identified in these samples. The average activity concentration of the Th-232 family radionuclides varied between 1.2 and 64.8 Bq/kg; that of the U-238 family varied between 4.5 and 47.3 Bq/kg; and that of the U-235 family between 0.22 and 2.3 Bq/kg. The highest activity concentration was observed for K-40 (with a maximal value of 1263 Bq/kg). Activity of the technogenic radionuclide Cs-137 was measured in several samples as being between 0.1 and 0.6 Bq/kg. Several features of the radionuclide distribution were observed to depend, in particular, on the type of rock, the tectonic zone and age. Several radionuclide activity ratios were also considered, including U-238/U-235, U-238/Th-232, Ra-226/U-238, and Pb-210/Ra-226, and a comparison was carried out with existing data in the literature |
