A neutron activation analysis procedure for the determination of uranium, thorium and potassium in geologic samples
A neutron activation analysis procedure was developed for the determination of uranium, thorium and potassium in basic and ultrabasic rocks. The three elements are determined in the same 0.5-g sample following a 30-min irradiation in a thermal neutron flux of 2·1012 n·cm−2·sec−1. Following radiochemical separation, the nuclides239U (T=23.5 m),233Th (T=22.2 m) and42K (T=12.36 h) are measured by β-counting. A computer program is used to resolve the decay curves which are complex owing to contamination and the growth of daughter activities. The method was used to determine uranium, throium and potassium in the U. S. Geological Survey standard rocks DTS-1, PCC-1 and BCR-1. For 0.5-g samples the limits of detection for uranium, throium and potassium are 0.7, 1.0 and 10 ppb, respectively.
Citation Information
Publication Year | 1972 |
---|---|
Title | A neutron activation analysis procedure for the determination of uranium, thorium and potassium in geologic samples |
DOI | 10.1007/BF02518619 |
Authors | P. J. Aruscavage, Hugh T. Millard |
Publication Type | Article |
Publication Subtype | Journal Article |
Series Title | Journal of Radioanalytical Chemistry |
Index ID | 70000814 |
Record Source | USGS Publications Warehouse |