Natural radioactivity of rocks from the historic Jeroným Mine in the Czech Republic

Abstract

This study reports the natural radioactivity of characteristic rocks found in the historic Jeroným Mine of the Czech Republic as measured under the laboratory conditions. The rocks analyzed included granites and schists weathered to varying degrees and collected from different levels of the underground workings of the Jeroným Mine. The mine itself has been subject to metal extraction (mainly tin and tungsten) since the sixteenth century and has recently been developed as a cultural and scientific attraction open to the public. Activity concentrations of 40K, 232Th and 238U were measured from nine rock samples using gamma-ray spectrometry. The activity concentrations of 40K varied from 595 Bq kg−1 to 1244 Bq kg−1, while 232Th varied from 25 Bq kg−1 to 55 Bq kg−1. The activities associated with 238U ranged from 46 Bq kg−1 to 386 Bq kg−1. The measured activities were used to estimate two radiation hazard indices typically applied to building materials, the activity concentration index I and the external hazard index Hex. Mean respective values of 1.02 and 0.77 for I and Hex indicate that the rocks found in the Jeroným Mine meet radiological safety standards for building materials and do not pose a risk to potential tourists and staff.

Reusable radiochromic hackmanite with gamma exposure memory

“…For uranium, the main gamma emissions come from Ra-226 (186 and 262 keV), Bi-214 (609, 768, 1120, 1765 keV) and Pb-214 (242, 295, 352 keV). 41,43…”

“…For uranium, the main gamma emissions come from Ra-226 (186 and 262 keV), Bi-214 (609, 768, 1120, 1765 keV) and Pb-214 (242, 295, 352 keV). 41,43 The basic rock is of Proterozoic age (2.4-2.7 billion years) but it is not clear in what orogeny the hackmanite phase has been formed. 44,45 The latest marble formation dates from the Triassic which is still 200-250 million years, so enough time for a high radiation dose.…”

Natural Radioactivity in Raw Building Materials for Underground Parking Lots and Assessment of Radiological Health Risk for the Population

“…In particular, thorium exposure can cause lung, pancreas, hepatic, bone, and kidney cancers and leukemia [ 19 ]. As a consequence, several studies on natural radioactivity content were carried out on different environmental matrices [ 20 , 21 , 22 , 23 ]. Among them, raw building materials for underground parking lots, i.e., mixtures of rock, mineral, and glass particles, are regarded as promising naturally occurring resources for producing inexpensive and environmentally friendly construction materials with adequate resistance and durability properties, thus strongly contributing to sustainable growth [ 24 , 25 ].…”

Radioactivity content in construction materials of assets of particular historical-artistic interest

“…The annual average human exposure to ionizing radiations produced by naturally occurring sources is largely dominating over the one due to artificial causes, like medical treatments, nuclear power plant accidents and nuclear weapons tests [1]. Among natural sources, the naturally occurring radioactive elements, such as 226 Ra, 232 Th and 40 K, contained in building materials employed for residential premises and workplaces, can provide a significant contribution to the external exposure of the occupants to gamma radiation [2].…”