Determination of Thoria Contents in Taiwan Monazite Sand and its Associated Minerals by Gamma Scintillation Spectrometry

Abstract

AbstractA rapid method for the determination of thoria content in Taiwan monazite sand and its associated minerals, zircon, and ilmenite, is presented. The method is gamma scintillation spectrometric, taking the area under the composite photopeak of Ra‐224 (0.241Mev) and Pb‐212 (0.239Mev) as a measure of the thoria content. It is applicable to minerals with thoria content ranging from 10% to 0.01%. The relative standard deviation is 3%. A determination can be made within one hour directly on the sample.