Fission Track Technique Research Articles

Assess human blood uranium levels of some Iraqi companies

The goal of this study is to measure the uranium concentration levels in the blood of Iraqi workers employed in certain government companies. Assessing the initial level of uranium toxicity in their blood and the possibility of health problems occurring. 184 blood samples from Iraqi government companies and the control group were collected in this study. A solid-state nuclear track detector (CR-39) was used to measure the amount of uranium present. Two drops of blood (100 μl) were placed on CR-39. The CR-39 was irradiated with a thermal neutron using the fission-track technique (241Am-9Be) to determine the uranium concentration in blood samples. The statistical analysis is carried out using the Origin Lab 2024 version. The results show the average of uranium concentration at all locations has a higher level compared to the control group. The blood samples from workers at the phosphate company had the highest amount (1.021 ± 0.050 μg/l), compared to samples from other factories. This result confirms that there is a connection between the concentration of uranium and phosphate substances. The results suggest that there is a slight increase in uranium levels that is related to both age and years of employment.

Luminescence ages and new interpretations of the timing and deposition of Quaternary sediments at Natural Trap Cave, Wyoming

Natural Trap Cave, located in the Big Horn Mountains of north-central Wyoming, has a history of trapping and preserving a range of North American fauna that plummeted into the deep vertical entrance. These animal remains were buried and preserved within sediments of the main chamber and, in turn, have helped elucidate the procession of faunal dynamics during the latest glacial cycle. The cave location, south of the Laurentide and Cordilleran Ice Sheets, and proximal to Yellowstone, is at an ideal geographical juncture to provide insights to ecological changes in North America. The sediments that the animals are buried in inform us about transport and deposition both inside and outside of the cave that relate to catchment dynamics. We report on a series of optically stimulated luminescence (OSL) ages derived from samples obtained within the cave during excavation work in 2014 and in 2018. We also examine chronology produced by argon, tephrochronology, fission track, and luminescence techniques that have been used for understanding the infilling of the cave. The cave sediment ages and in situ measured gamma spectroscopy as measured in this study helped resolve an improved chronological age model when combined with previous data.The suite of OSL ages is interpreted through the stratigraphic relationships (and vertebrates contained within) which requires the use of an adequate age model; we use either the central age model or minimum age model where appropriate and with justification. Lowest sediments are dated to ∼150 ka with a hiatus at ∼130 to 52 ka. Above this, sediment deposition and entrainment of paleontological materials are representative of Pleistocene and early Holocene times, between 37 ± 6 ka and 7.6 ± 0.5 ka. The stratigraphic architecture suggests that deposition of materials into the cave is episodic and rapid, followed by quiescent periods where hydrologic scour, heavy overland flow, or possibly a cryo-hydrologic process may have altered unit relationships. Thus, the complementary geochronometers and the characteristics of quartz versus feldspar luminescence signals improve temporal interpretations of these complex deposits. This adapted understanding of mixing also sets the stage for future work with the aim to improve our understanding of ages and sources for ash units within these cave deposits. The three ash units recognized in the cave may represent an in-situ reworking of the same ash or may be representative of previously undocumented eruptions from the Yellowstone Caldera.

A multi-method approach to constrain the age of eruption and post-depositional processes in a Lower Jurassic ignimbrite from the Marifil Volcanic Complex, eastern North Patagonian Massif

In the eastern North Patagonian Massif, the Marifil Volcanic Complex corresponds to an Early Jurassic magmatic event. In this study, we evaluate new geochronological and thermochronological data obtained from an ignimbrite of the complex. U–Pb zircon ages from the pumice fraction reveal a Concordia age of 184.4 ± 1.1 Ma. Conversely, U–Pb zircon ages from the whole-rock sample evidence a Concordia age of 190.4 ± 0.6 Ma. Fission track techniques were applied on the same whole-rock sample. Zircon fission track performed on the same zircon-crystals dated by U–Pb yielded an age of 172.5 ± 8.1 Ma, while apatite fission track evidenced a cooling age of 179.1 ± 13.5 Ma. Apatite and zircon crystals describe uniform morphologies with unaltered euhedral to subhedral grains and well-developed crystalline forms. The results suggest that the age of eruption and deposition of the ignimbrite is better explained by the pumice zircon age rather than the whole-rock zircon age. Inherited grain-ages and petrographic evidence support provenance from older, probably cogenetic, magmatic products. Fission track ages reflect a post-depositional process probably related to diagenetic mineral changes.

Combined Zircon/Apatite U-Pb and Fission-Track Dating by LA-ICP-MS and Its Geological Applications: An Example from the Egyptian Younger Granites

Laser Ablation-Inductively Coupled Plasma-Mass Spectrometry (LA-ICP-MS) is classically used in U-Pb dating to measure U and Pb isotopic concentrations. Recently, it has become frequently used in fission-track (FT) chronometry too. As an advantage, the U-Pb and FT double dating will enable efficiently determining the crystallization ages and the thermo-tectonic history concurrently as samples volume, analytical time, efforts, and cost will be greatly reduced. To demonstrate the validity of this approach, a Younger granite (Ediacaran age) sample from North Eastern Desert (NED), Egypt was analyzed for U-Pb and FT double dating. The integration of multiple geochronologic data yielded a zircon U-Pb crystallization age of 599 ± 30 Ma, after emplacement, the rock cooled /uplifted rapidly to depths of 9–14 km as response to the post-Pan African Orogeny erosional event as indicated by apatite U-Pb age of 474 ± 9 Ma. Afterwards, the area experienced a slow cooling/exhumation for a short period, most-likely as response to denudation effect. During the Devonian, the area was rapidly exhumed to reach depths of 1.5–3 km as response to the Hercynian tectonic event, as indicated by a zircon FT age of 347 ± 16 Ma. Then the studied sample has experienced a relatively long period of thermal stability between the Carboniferous and the Eocene. During the Oligocene-Miocene, the Gulf of Suez opening event affected the area by crustal uplift to its current elevation. This integration of Orogenic and thermo-tectonic information reveals the validity, efficiency, and importance of double dating of U-Pb and FT techniques using LA-ICP-MS methodology.

Uranium Concentrations in Urine of Maternal Samples in Baghdad Governorate

The trace concentration of uranium in urine samples for pregnant women and non- pregnant women were determined using fission track technique with CR-39 track detector that is employed for registration of induced fission tracks. A total of 32 urine samples were collected from Yarmouk Teaching Hospital, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology for Pregnant women and 5 urine samples were collected from Different regions of Baghdad governorate. The results show that the uranium concentration in urine of Pregnant women were ranged from 0.58 μg/l (30 years old, living in AL- Shurta AL khamisa region) to 1.58 μg/l (23 years old living in AL–Doura region) with average 0.92±0.2 μg/l. While for non-Pregnant women, uranium concentration ranged from 0.61 μg/l (24 years old, living in AL-Doura region) to 1.16μg/l (40 years old, living in AL-Ghazaliya region) with average 0.874±0.19μg/l. It was found that the average uranium concentrations in urine samples for pregnant women living in Hayi AL-maealif region higher than other regions in Baghdad governorate.

Regional sandstone-type uranium mineralization rooted in Oligo–Miocene tectonic inversion in the Songliao Basin, NE China

The tectonic inversion of the Songliao Basin during the Oligo–Miocene may have played an important role in controlling the development of sandstone-type uranium deposits (SUDs). Here we investigate drill holes along a southeast to northwest section in this basin based on apatite fission-track (AFT) and zircon fission-track (ZFT) techniques. We present 50 data from 15 deep boreholes at different depths between 665 and 3956 m and different structural units including grabens and horsts formed in the Early Cretaceous beneath the basin. The results of the effective AFT ages are 100 ± 11 to 2.3 ± 0.4 Ma (P(x2) > 5%) and ZFT ages are 97.5–20.4 Ma (including binomial peak ages). These results reveal that the basin underwent two distinct stages of rapid cooling after Late Cretaceous. In the first stage, during the Late Cretaceous–Early Paleogene (~80–50 Ma), tectonic uplift occurred in all of the structural units including grabens and horsts, which was marked by an unconformity between the latest Cretaceous Mingshui and the Eocene Yi'an formations. In the second stage, during the Oligo–Miocene (~40–10 Ma), tectonic uplift occurred mainly in the grabens but not in the horsts, corresponding with a few sediments of the Neogene Da'an and Taikang formations. We propose that the folds and the thrust faults mostly characterize in the second stage indicating a major tectonic inversion in the basin. The shifting of the two stages was probably in response to differences in the subduction angles and directions of motion of the Paleo-Pacific Plate from the southeast. Combined with previous information, it was demonstrated that most of the U mineralization ages are younger than 40 Ma, with a peak in the Miocene or later (<20 Ma). We thus propose that the SUDs have been redistributed and redeposited locally in successive stages during and after the Oligo–Miocene tectonic inversion.

Estimation of Uranium Concentration in Urine Samples of Kidneys Failure Patients in Al- Muthanna Governorate

The measurement of uranium concentration in human urine is very important in assessment of occupational and public exposure to uranium. In the present work, the fission track technique was used to decide uranium concentration in blood of Kidneys Failure Patients in Al- Muthanna Governorate. The uranium concentration values in urine samples of Kidneys Failure Patients ranged between 0.92 to 4.87 , while Healthy group results were ranged 0.91 to 1.82 . Results showed that the concentration of uranium in the URINE increases in kidney failure patients

Uranium Levels in Groundwater of North India

Ionizing radiations are continuously exposed to human being. Natural radionuclides are available in different amount in environment. Uranium is found everywhere in water, rocks, soil and building material. Ground water is the main source of drinking water. So it becomes important to review the water quality of north India in view of uranium. Uranium is inhaled through drinking water in human body. In this regard, an extensive data has been compiled and reviewed in this article from North India and compared with safe limits from worldwide data. The majority of the reported articles are about monitoring of uranium concentration in water samples. Most of the reported data have been obtained using Fission track technique, ICPMS, laser fluorimetery and LED fluorimetery.

Transmutation of uranium and thorium in the particle field of the Quinta sub-critical assembly

The fission rates of natural uranium and thorium were measured in the particle field of Quinta, a 512 kg natural uranium target–blanket sub-critical assembly. The Quinta assembly was irradiated with deuterons of energy 4 GeV from the Nuclotron accelerator of the Joint Institute for Nuclear Research (JINR), Dubna, Russia. Fission rates of uranium and thorium were measured using Gamma spectroscopy and fission track techniques. The production rate of 239Np was also measured. The obtained experimental results were compared with Monte Carlo predictions using the MCNPX 2.7 code employing the physics and fission–evaporation models of INCL4–ABLA, CEM03.03 and LAQGSM03.03. Some of the neutronic characteristics of the Quinta are compared with the “Energy plus Transmutation (EpT)” subcritical assembly, which is composed of a lead target and natU blanket. This comparison clearly demonstrates the importance of target material, neutron moderator and reflector types on the performance of a spallation neutron driven subcritical system.As the dimensions of the Quinta are very close to those of an optimal multi-rod-uranium target, the experimental and Monte Carlo calculation results presented in this paper provide insights on the particle field within a uranium target as well as in Accelerator Driven Systems in general.

裂变径迹法测年概述及其在造山带研究中的应用

裂变径迹法是上个世纪60年代兴起的低温热年代学方法。裂变径迹法早期以定年为主，随着裂变技术的发展，这种方法广泛应用于造山带的研究，包括：造山带隆升时代和隆升速率的研究、造山带热演化历史模拟研究。 Fission track method as a geological dating tool was firstly proposed in the early 1960s. In the past decades there has been a major expansion in application of fission track dating. As the development of fission track technique, it has been applied to the study of oregenic belt widely, including: to determine the uplifting time and rate of orogenic belt and to study the thermal history of orogenic belt.

Uranium-bearing francolites present in organic-rich limestones of NW Greece: a preliminary study using synchrotron radiation and fission track techniques

Synchrotron radiation techniques (μ-XRF and μ-XANES) were applied to the study of organic-rich phosphatized limestones of NW Greece (Epirus). The results revealed uranium accumulation in areas of the material containing, among others, carbonate apatite (francolite) and organic matter. The UL 3-edge of μ-XANES spectra showed that uranium was present in tetravalent form. U-bearing francolite crystals were separated from the rock and characterized by Raman spectroscopy and microprobe. The analysis of the crystals also indicated the presence of sodium and sulfur. The uranium presence in the crystals was also visualized, after neutron irradiation and etching, by the observation of the fission tracks.

An improved FT-TIMS method of measuring uranium isotope ratios in the uranium-bearing particles

An improved method of Fission Track technique combined with Thermal Ionization Mass Spectrometry (FT-TIMS) was established in order to determine isotope ratio of uranium-bearing particle. Working standard of uranium oxide particles with a defined diameter and isotopic composition were prepared and used to review the method. Results showed an excellent agreement with certified values. The developed method was used to analyze isotope ratio of single uranium-bearing particle in swipe samples successfully. The analysis results of uranium-bearing particles in swipe samples accorded with the operation history of the origin.

Identifying uranium particles using fission tracks and microsampling individual particles for analysis using thermal ionization mass spectrometry.

The analysis of isotope ratios in individual particles found in the environment is important to clarify the origins of the particles. In particular, the analysis of uranium particles in environmental samples from nuclear facilities is useful for detecting undeclared nuclear activities related to the production of nuclear weapons. Thermal ionization mass spectrometry (TIMS) combined with a fission track technique is an efficient method for determining the isotope ratios of individual uranium particles, but has a drawback called "particle-mixing". When some uranium particles are measured as a single particle and an average isotope ratio for the particles is obtained, it is called "particle mixing". This may lead to erroneous conclusions in terms of the particle sources that are identified. In the present study, microsampling using a scanning electron microscope was added to the fission track-TIMS procedure. The analysis of a mixture of SRM 950a and CRM U100 reference materials containing uranium particles indicated that particle mixing was almost completely avoided using the proposed technique. The performance of the proposed method was sufficient for obtaining reliable data for the sources of individual particles to be identified reliably.

Geochemical Investigations for Uranium in Some Areas of Jharkhand State Using Fission Track Technique

Human population is always exposed to ionizing radiations from natural sources present in the earth crust. Hence the analysis of uranium in soil sample has great significance due to health hazards to human beings. For the purpose, some different soil samples collected from some area of Jharkhand have been analysed for trace uranium concentration using the fission track technique. Lexan polycarbonate was used as detector for recording fission tracks. As reactor neutron spectra is associated with both thermal and fast neutron fluxes; correction to the present uranium data due to fast neutron fission of 232Th was also applied. The uranium contents were estimated by comparing the track densities detectors immersed in the sample and the standard uranium solutions, irradiated along with the samples under the same irradiation conditions. The uranium in the soil samples were found to vary from 209 ng/g to 991 ng/g.

Thermotectonic history of SE China since the Late Mesozoic: insights from detailed thermochronological studies of Hong Kong

The late Mesozoic Yanshanian volcanic arc affected an extensive region of SE China, but the conclusion of magmatism and later evolution are not fully understood. Widespread Yanshanian ignimbrites and their contemporaneous granites exposed in Hong Kong represent a microcosm of this magmatic arc. To constrain the post-magmatic thermal history of the region, we present zircon and apatite fission-track analyses from these rocks. Double dating using laser ablation inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry U–Pb and fission-track techniques on detrital zircons from post-volcanic Cretaceous sediments is used to further constrain the tectonothermal evolution. The resulting dataset and thermal modelling suggest that the igneous rocks and Cretaceous sediments together experienced post-emplacement or post-depositional heating to &gt;250 °C, subsequently cooling through 120–60 °C after c . 80 Ma. The heating reflects the combined effects of an enhanced geothermal gradient and burial. We interpret the enhanced gradient to represent continuing Yanshanian magmatic activity until c . 100–80 Ma, much later than previously considered. Our data also indicate a long-term, slow cooling ( c . 1 °C myr –1 ) since the early Cenozoic, linked to c . 2–3 km of erosion-driven exhumation. The thermotectonic history of Hong Kong reflects the mid-Cretaceous transition of SE China from an active to a passive margin bordered by marginal basins that formed in the early Cenozoic. Supplementary material: Descriptions of samples, operating conditions of the laser ablation inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry system and the full dataset of U–Pb dating of detrital zircons are available at www.geolsoc.org.uk/SUP18750 .

Letter to the Editor: Query related to the publication titled, “Application of fission track technique for estimation of uranium concentration in drinking waters of Punjab” by Prabhu et al. 294:443–446 (2012), doi:10.1007/s10967-011-1503-2

Letter to the Editor: Query related to the publication titled, “Application of fission track technique for estimation of uranium concentration in drinking waters of Punjab” by Prabhu et al. 294:443–446 (2012), doi:10.1007/s10967-011-1503-2

The use of solution nebulization ICP-MS combined with particle screening and micro-sampling for analysis of individual uranium-bearing particles

Solution nebulization inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) was applied to the analysis of uranium isotope abundance ratios in individual particles. Particle screening was carried out before ICP-MS analysis using two different techniques: irradiation with thermal neutrons and fission track observation (so-called “fission track technique”) on the one hand and automated particle measurement (APM) in secondary ion mass spectrometry (SIMS) on the other hand. Uranium-bearing particles localized by the screening techniques were sampled individually by micro-sampling devices inside a scanning electron microscope and deposited on clean silicon wafers for subsequent chemical dissolution and ICP-MS measurement. The micro-sampling enables us to avoid polyatomic ion interferences and measure some uranium-bearing particles at the same time in isotopic analysis. Using both methods, particles from certified reference materials and a real-life sample taken at a nuclear facility were measured to evaluate the performance of the methods. Using ICP-MS combined with the fission track technique, the uranium isotope abundance ratios were successfully determined for individual particles with diameters ranging from 1.2 to 2.4 μm in a certified reference material (NBL CRM U100). The analysis of the real-life sample using ICP-MS combined with the fission track technique gave 235U/238U isotope abundance ratios between 0.0246 and 0.0376. When APM was used as the particle screening method for the real-life sample, 235U/238U isotope abundance ratios ranging from 0.0259 to 0.0432 were obtained. These values were higher than those obtained by a well-established method for particle analysis (SIMS). From these results, it can be concluded that both techniques allow selection and analysis of the uranium particles with the highest 235U abundance, which is the most important for nuclear safeguards.

Neutron Induced Fission Track Estimation of Uranium Concentration and Its Associated Health Hazards in Drinking Water of the Faisalabad Industrial City

Drinking water plays a major role regarding quality of human life because polluted water is the main cause of many types of diseases. Besides other pollutants, high concentration of uranium above a certain level in drinking water is also hazardous. As water and food are the main sources of uranium intake, it is absolutely imperative that their level of concentrations is monitored regularly for safety of the general public. In this regard, trace amount of uranium in drinking water samples collected from different locations of Faisalabadcity has been carried out using Neutron Induced Fission Track Technique. The water samples along with the standard of known uranium concentration were poured and dried over Lexan track detectors and then irradiated with thermal neutrons in Reactor. After etching, the tracks produced in the detectors as a result of 235U (n, f) reaction were counted under an optical microscope. The uranium concentration was determined by counting and comparing the observed fission track density in the samples and the standard. The observed uranium concentration in the studied water samples varied from (1.04 ± 0.30) μg·L-1 to (21.08 ± 2. 95) μg·L-1 with an average value of (7.39 ± 1.30) μg·L-1 and is found to be within safe limits as far as uranium related health hazards are concerned.

Nuclear analytical techniques for quantification of uranium for its recovery from seawater

Nuclear analytical techniques namely fission track technique using solid state nuclear track detector (SSNTD) and instrumental neutron activation analysis (INAA) have been standardized and applied for quantification of low uranium concentrations in liquid samples such as feed, elute and brine and solid sorbent samples respectively. The quantification of uranium is required for its recovery study from seawater, which is one of the potential sources of uranium. The uranium concentration of a liquid sample obtained by SSNTD method was compared with the other well established conventional techniques like ICP-MS, ICP-AES, adsorptive stripping voltametry and alpha spectrometry. INAA was applied for uranium concentration determination in the radiation grafted polyamidoxime sorbent samples.

Fission track–secondary ion mass spectrometry as a tool for detecting the isotopic signature of individual uranium containing particles

A fission track technique was used as a sample preparation method for subsequent isotope abundance ratio analysis of individual uranium containing particles with secondary ion mass spectrometry (SIMS) to measure the particles with higher enriched uranium efficiently. A polycarbonate film containing particles was irradiated with thermal neutrons and etched with 6M NaOH solution. Each uranium containing particle was then identified by observing fission tracks created and a portion of the film having a uranium containing particle was cut out and put onto a glassy carbon planchet. The polycarbonate film, which gave the increases of background signals on the uranium mass region in SIMS analysis, was removed by plasma ashing with 200W for 20min. In the analysis of swipe samples having particles containing natural (NBL CRM 950a) or low enriched uranium (NBL CRM U100) with the fission track–SIMS method, uranium isotope abundance ratios were successfully determined. This method was then applied to the analysis of a real inspection swipe sample taken at a nuclear facility. As a consequence, the range of 235U/238U isotope abundance ratio between 0.0276 and 0.0438 was obtained, which was higher than that measured by SIMS without using a fission track technique (0.0225 and 0.0341). This indicates that the fission track–SIMS method is a powerful tool to identify the particle with higher enriched uranium in environmental samples efficiently.