Radiological characterization of the phosphate deposit in Al-Jalamid phosphate mining area, Saudi Arabia

IF 0.7 4区物理与天体物理 Q4 CHEMISTRY, INORGANIC & NUCLEAR

Nukleonika Pub Date : 2021-03-01 DOI:10.2478/nuka-2021-0005

A. Alhawsawi, E. I. Shababa, M. Qutub, E. Banoqitah, A. Kinsara

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引用次数: 2

Abstract

Abstract It is a known fact that phosphate rocks have high levels of natural radioactivity due to the presence of large concentrations of radionuclides. This work aims to estimate radiation exposure and dose levels at Al-Jalamid site in northern Saudi Arabia. Al-Jalamid area is one of the largest reserves of phosphate worldwide. Ma’aden, a Saudi Government public company, owns the mine and is responsible for all mining activities. Phosphate and soil samples collected from Al-Jalamid phosphate mining area have been analysed for their uranium and thorium content by an α-spectrometer using radiochemical techniques. The quantity of radon gas was measured both in groundwater and in the atmosphere (indoor and outdoor) at the site using a portable radiation survey instrument. Groundwater samples collected from wells surrounding the mining area were analysed using a liquid scintillation counter in addition to an α-spectrometer. Finally, it is found that phosphate rock concentrate products cannot be utilized economically based on the standards set by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), since the average activity concentration does not reach the limit set by IAEA and hence are not commercially feasible.

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沙特阿拉伯Al-Jalamid磷矿区磷矿床的放射学特征

摘要众所周知，由于存在大量放射性核素，磷矿石具有高水平的天然放射性。这项工作旨在估计沙特阿拉伯北部Al Jalamid现场的辐射暴露和剂量水平。Al Jalamid地区是世界上磷酸盐储量最大的地区之一。Ma'aden是沙特政府的一家上市公司，拥有该矿并负责所有采矿活动。使用放射化学技术，用α谱仪分析了从Al Jalamid磷酸盐矿区采集的磷酸盐和土壤样品的铀和钍含量。使用便携式辐射测量仪测量了现场地下水和大气（室内外）中的氡气含量。除了使用α-光谱仪外，还使用液体闪烁计数器对从矿区周围水井采集的地下水样本进行了分析。最后，人们发现，根据国际原子能机构（原子能机构）制定的标准，磷矿石精矿产品不能得到经济利用，因为平均活性浓度没有达到原子能机构规定的限度，因此在商业上不可行。

本文章由计算机程序翻译，如有差异，请以英文原文为准。

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来源期刊

Nukleonika 物理-无机化学与核化学

CiteScore

2.00

自引率

0.00%

发文量

审稿时长

4-8 weeks

期刊介绍： "Nukleonika" is an international peer-reviewed, scientific journal publishing original top quality papers on fundamental, experimental, applied and theoretical aspects of nuclear sciences. The fields of research include: radiochemistry, radiation measurements, application of radionuclides in various branches of science and technology, chemistry of f-block elements, radiation chemistry, radiation physics, activation analysis, nuclear medicine, radiobiology, radiation safety, nuclear industrial electronics, environmental protection, radioactive wastes, nuclear technologies in material and process engineering, radioisotope diagnostic methods of engineering objects, nuclear physics, nuclear reactors and nuclear power, reactor physics, nuclear safety, fuel cycle, reactor calculations, nuclear chemical engineering, nuclear fusion, plasma physics etc.