High-resolution gamma-ray spectrometry logging for contamination assessment : C.J. Koizumi, J.R. Brodeur, R.K. Price, J.E. Meisner & D.C. Stromswold, Nuclear Geophysics, 8(2), 1994, pp 149–164

Abstract

A well-logging system containing a high-purity germanium (HPGe) detector provides quantitative assessment of γ-ray-emitting contaminants and natural radionuclides in the subsurface. The system is in operation at the Hanford Site of the U.S. Department of Energy where radionuclide-laden effluent from the production of nuclear materials in the past has contaminated the soil. The system is calibrated by using standard formations that have known concentrations of K, U and Th. This produces calibration constants for K, U and Th, and a detector inverse efficiency function for the energy range 0.1-3 MeV