Radioactivity measurements in volcano-tectonic area for geodynamic process study

Abstract

In the last ten years we carried out several radioactivity investigations in the aetnean area, a peculiar site characterized by both tectonic and volcanic features. In particular, continuous measurements in-soil radon gas carried out from 2001 until 2006 in the eastern flank of Mt. Etna, while several volcanic events occurred, showed a possible correlation between radon concentration and geodynamic activity, in particular magma uprising. We report in particular on the survey performed in order to determine vertical radon concentration profiles at different depths in sites near active faults in order to extract radon diffusion coefficients for the different sites. Moreover laboratory analysis allowed determining radionuclide contents (via γ-spectroscopy) and radon exhalation rate (via Can-technique) for different rock samples from the monitored sites. This study represents a contribution to better define the radon transport process through fractured media, in particular in volcanic area. *

Multivariate Statistics, Mineralogy, and Radiological Hazards Assessment Due to the Natural Radioactivity Content in Pyroclastic Products from Mt. Etna, Sicily, Southern Italy

“…For the whole set of data reported in this work, we can reasonably retain the detected mineralogical phases and the glassy groundmass responsible for the content of radionuclides previously described. In particular, the activity concentrations reported in Table 3 put in evidence a 40 K value that appears to be high if compared with the literature data regarding radiological analyses in Etnean volcanic rocks [ 52 ].…”

“…The absorbed dose rate was estimated using Equation (2) and values range from 52.4 nGy h −1 to 71.4 nGy h −1 , with an average value of 65.3 nGy h −1 . The variability of the absorbed doses is attributable to the different lithologic components of the considered areas [ 52 ].…”

Radon-Specific Activity in Drinking Water and Radiological Health Risk Assessment: A Case Study

“…It can be noticed that that the radon activity concentration varies from a minimum of (7.4 ± 1.4) Bq L −1 for the site ID2 to a maximum of (164 ± 46) Bq L −1 for the site ID1, thus suggesting that the provenance of these drinking water samples is different and that they originate from different depths and pass through distinct geological strata. This uneven distribution of the specific activity may be dependent on the amount of Rn-222 in the aquifer rocks of different locations and on the residence time of water/rocks-soils in contact [36]. Specifically, the highest value was recorded for a site situated within the geological context of the "Calabrian-Peloritan arc" [37].…”

Radon monitoring as a possible indicator of tectonic events

“…Elaborate research work conducted in Japan (Hirotaka et al, 1988;Igarashi et al, 1995) with Turkey (Inceoz et al, 2006;Friedmann et al, 1988) followed by Mt. Etna, Italy since 2001 (Imm è et al, 2005;Morelli et al, 2012). Precursory phenomena of radon in earthquake sequence were observed by Rastogi et al (1987) and precursory behavior of helium and radon observed for magnitude 5 earthquakes (Walia et al, 2005).…”