Radioactivity studies along fracture zones in areas around Galudih, East Singhbhum, Jharkhand, India

Abstract

The application of radon to delineate geological processes like faulting and deformation, groundwater flow and contamination have assumed considerable significance over the last decade due to low-level detection capabilities and long-distance time migration. Suitable modeling procedures have helped in quantification of radon emanation and migration along active and passive faults. In the present study, we have attempted to correlate the radionuclide content and the extent of fracturing. For this purpose, quartzites occurring around Galudih, Jharkhand State, India, have been investigated. The study includes fracture density measurements at selected outcrops and joint analyses to evaluate the relationship between radionuclides and mesoscopic fractures. Moreover, microstructural studies have also been performed to decipher any existing relationship between radionuclides and microscale deformation mechanisms. It has been found that the microstructural phenomena are more important than mesoscopic scale processes and the former controls the concentration of radionuclides in rocks.