Natural radionuclides in rocks and their association with the mineralogy of rocks in Dakshina Kannada region of southern India

The radioactivity levels of natural radionuclides 226Ra, 232Th, and 40K in the rocks of Dakshina Kannada region of southern India were measured by NaI (Tl) gamma-ray spectrometer. The specific activities of 226Ra, 232Th, and 40K ranged from 4.2±0.4 to 74.5±1.7 Bq kg−1, 14.5±0.7 to 83.5±1.6 Bq kg−1, and 172±3 to 964±7 Bq kg−1 with the mean of 25.1±1.0 Bq kg−1, 36.1±1.0 Bq kg−1, and 502±5.0 Bq kg−1, respectively. The normality of the frequency distribution curves of 226Ra, 232Th, and 40K was tested using the Kolmogorov–Smirnov test. The radiological hazard indices were computed from the measured activity concentration of natural radionuclides in rocks and these were found to be within acceptable levels. To investigate the sources of radioactivity, the minerals involved in the rocks were detected using XRD and FTIR. The mineralogical studies reveal that the principal sources of gamma radiation in the study area are 232Th-rich phosphates and 40K-bearing feldspars.

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Opracowanie rekordu ze środków MEiN, umowa nr SONP/SP/546092/2022 w ramach programu "Społeczna odpowiedzialność nauki" - moduł: Popularyzacja nauki i promocja sportu (2022-2023).