GAMMA-RAY SPECTROMETRY OF NATURALLY OCCURRING RADIOACTIVE MATERIALS (NORM) FROM BIRNIN GWARI ARTISANAL GOLDMINE OF KADUNA STATE, NIGERIA
GAMMA-RAY SPECTROMETRY OF NATURALLY OCCURRING RADIOACTIVE MATERIALS (NORM) FROM BIRNIN GWARI ARTISANAL GOLDMINE OF KADUNA STATE, NIGERIA
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Date
2013-05
Authors
MUHAMMAD ATTAHIRU, ABDULLAHI
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Abstract
Mining has been identified as one of the potential sources of exposure to naturally
occurring radioactive materials (NORM). Whilst the developed countries have
identified NORM as potential problems and measures are being taken to address the
issue very little is being done in the developing countries. However artisanal miners and
mining companies are not being regulated for NORM in Nigeria. Birnin Gwari is one of
the largest goldmines in Nigeria and has been in operating for the past 80 years with no
data on radioactivity levels. This study was carried out to determine the activity
concentrations of 238U, 232Th and 40K from the gold ores mine at Birnin Gwari gold
mine using instrumental neutron activation analysis (INAA) technique. The mean
activity concentrations for 238U, 232Th and 40K in soil/rock samples were found to be
37.36 ± 5.45, 62.69 ± 6.33 and 997.57 ± 199.77Bq/kg respectively. The results from
this study are slightly higher when compared with typical world average of 33, 45 and
420 Bq/kg for 238U, 232Th and 40K respectively. The mean absorbed dose rate due to
these radionuclide is 96.52 ± 9.62nGy/h which is also higher than 60nGy/h world
average. The mean annual effective dose rate to the public in the area was estimated to
be 0.118 ± 0.012mSv. The mean annual effective dose rate obtained in this work is
lower than 1mSv/year dose limit recommended by ICRP for public radiation exposure
control.
Description
A thesis submitted to the School of Post Graduate Studies, Ahmadu Bello University,
Zaria. In Partial fulfillment of the requirement for Award of Masters Degree in Physics,
Department of Physics, Faculty of Science Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria Nigeria
May, 2013.
Keywords
GAMMA-RAY,, SPECTROMETRY,, NATURALLY,, OCCURRING,, RADIOACTIVE,, MATERIALS ,, BIRNIN GWARI,, ARTISANAL,, GOLDMINE,, KADUNA STATE,, NIGERIA