Mineralogical influence over the presence of primordial radionuclide along the industrial corridor of northern coastal region of Chennai

Abstract

The present study focuses on the correspondence between the natural radioactivity and geological parameters such as the textural nature and mineralogical variation of the sediment. The activity concentration of the primordial radionuclide varied in correspondence with the variation in the heavy mineral accumulation along the coastal stretch and the coal ash deposition along the hinterland region. XRD analysis on heavy minerals confirms the presence of heavy mineral—Ilmenite to be present predominantly in the heavy minerals fraction of the samples. The magnetic susceptibility values confirm, the correspondence between the magnetic minerals and materials and the activity concentration of 238U and 232Th in the sediments.