An in-Situ Neutron Activation Analysis System for Assaying Metal Ores

Abstract

The topic of this paper is a method of in-situ neutron activation using high resolution gamma ray spectroscopy and a californium 252 neutron source. The paper is divided into three parts: a description of the authors' high resolution gamma ray spectrometer probe, results to date using a Cf-252 source and applications made possible by a small accelerator. The basic tool of measurement is the PGT probe - a high resolution gamma ray spectrometer that incorporates an intrinsic germanium detector and a computerized multichannel analyzer. The system is capable of operating at data rates as high as 100,000 counts per second and can record 4000-channel gamma ray spectra in-situ. The probe is 2.5 inches diameter and 12 feet long. All data are transmitted digitally over standard 4-H-O armored cable to a computer-based logging system. Complete analysis can be performed on site.