Thermoluminescence dosimetric characteristics and glow curve analysis of Eocene rock salt, the gray halite, mined from Bahadur Khel site, Pakistan

Abstract

Thermoluminescence (TL) response of naturally occurring Eocene rock salt (Gray halite) is assessed for its potential use as a cost-effective phosphor for dosimetric applications. Natural deposits of the Eocene salt lie on the Himalayan foothills in Pakistan. The grayish color of the halite is due to the intermixing of black bitumen/shale. EDS and ICP-OES techniques are used for the analytical study of the sample. It confirms the presence of Ca, K, Mg, Sr, Zn SO4, Mn, Al, Si and Fe along with the main matrix-NaCl. The Eocene salt is sulfur (S) rich, and potassium (K) poor mineral as compared to the other regional halite. The XRD analysis shows that lattice structure of the halite is composed of two interpenetrating FCC-sublattices of Na and Cl. Cold pressed pellets weighing 40 mg are produced for dosimetric study of the material. Standard gamma source is used for pellet irradiaition. Three different samples of Eocene salt (i.e. rock salt, naturally precipitated salt and refined salt) are prepared. It is observed that, if the material is used as such in its natural form, the dosimetric peak of the glow curve occurs at higher temperature >260 °C. The raw form of rock salt is therefore pre-processed (refined) whereby the major glow peak has shifted onto the dosimetrically significant position at 230 °C. Because of the optimal shape of the glow curve, the refined salt sample is investigated in detail: TL glow curves are acquired from 50 °C to 300 °C, the phosphor reveals a composite glow curve where four peaks are observed at approximate positions of 110 °C (P1), 145 °C (P2), 180 °C (P3) & 230 °C (P4). TL response is studied in the range of 5 mGy to 2 Gy; where a linear/superalinear dose-response behavior is observed for the current material. The Minimum Detectable Dose Limit (MDDL) is measured from the linear region and found to be 0.37 mGy. The first readout results in very low residues <0.005 % and is sufficient to afresh the dosimeter for the next reading. A repeatability test is performed up to 20 identical cycles: the resultant COV, obtained for refined salt sample, is 2.3 % (and 1.5 % in 10 cycles). The irradiated pellets show about 20 % loss of the initial signal for one month fading study. Tm-Tstop method and CGCD techniques are used for kinetic analysis. Kinetic parameters (b, E and s) are estimated from multiple glow curves and found similarities in the results. The results of the preliminary investigations suggest that the pellet prepared from Eocene salt has a potential for use in TL dosimetry.