Concentration of 226Ra in rocks of the southern part of Lower Silesia (SW Poland)

Abstract

The aim of the article is to present a preliminary description of rocks in the southern part of Lower Silesia and the Sudety Mountains in particular, with regard to 226Ra content. The research demonstrates that the average content of this isotope was 40.4 Bq/kg in the rocks of the southern part of Lower Silesia, and 41.7 Bq/kg in the rocks of the Sudetes. These values are slightly higher than the mean 226Ra content in the upper part of the Earth’s crust, while the measured maximum content of this isotope (244 Bq/kg) is more than twice as high as the upper range of the values most frequently recorded in the upper part of the Earth’s crust. The minimum values were lower than the detection limit, which was about 1 Bq/kg. These results reflect the mosaic-like geological structure of Lower Silesia, and particularly the Sudety Mountains, the occurrence of SiO 2-rich igneous rocks and the products of their metamorphism, as well as numerous manifestations of uranium mineralisation or even deposital concentrations of this element. The rocks with the highest 226Ra contents include (in decreasing order): aplites, granites, gneisses and leucogranites, granite-gneisses, granodiorites and rhyolites, and, finally, mudstones. The lowest values of 226Ra content, on the other hand, were measured in sandstones, marls and conglomerates, and extremely low—in marbles and quartzites. The results show that background values of 226Ra content in the rocks of the southern part of Lower Silesia fall within a range from several to about 100 Bq/kg, which is the same as the range most frequently recorded in the upper part of the Earth’s crust. Distribution of these values has log-normal character. The research demonstrates that the southern part of Lower Silesia, and the Sudetes in particular, may be marked by an increased radon potential. Particularly liable areas are: the Karkonosze granite massif, especially in its border zones, the L a ̨ dek-Śnieżnik and the Izera massifs, especially in their gneiss parts, as well as the Orlica massif. There is an urgent necessity to undertake more extensive and detailed research into this subject in connection with radiological hazard of radon. These statements are compliant with observed high radon concentrations in some groundwaters and tourist underground objects on these areas.