A Rapid Mapping of Sarıçiçek Pluton from In-situ Gamma Ray Measurements

Abstract

The concentrations of equivalent eU, eTh, K% and dose rate values were measured using in-situ gamma-ray survey in order to map rapidly the surface geology of the Saricicek pluton and its surrounding area. Gamma-ray spectrometric data were collected with a 512-channel portable gamma-ray spectrometer (NaI (Tl) cyrstal) at 265 points in which duration for a single point measurement is 5 minutes. The average activity concentrations of 238U, 232Th, 40K and dose rate obtained in this study are 38.97 Bq/kg, 50.56 Bq/kg, 935.267Bq/kg and 88.78 nGy/h, respectively. Although distinct radioactive anomalies were found in the studied area, the radiometric values showed some minor variations with slightly higher values than the normal level. As the result of this study, the average values of the absorbed gamma dose rate in air, radium equivalent activity, annual effective dose rate and the external hazard index were also calculated and examined in terms of radiologic hazard in this area. Consequently, all of the radiometric parameters are in good agreement with the regional surface geology of the Saricicek pluton and its surrounding formation and there is no significant radiologic risk for humans and environment in and around this area.