THE POTENTIAL OF γ-RAY SPECTROSCOPY FOR SOIL PROXIMAL SURVEY IN CLAYEY SOILS LE POTENTIEL DE LA SPECTROSCOPIE A RAYONS-γ LORS DE L'ECHANTILLONNAGE PEDOLOGIQUE DE SOLS ARGILEUX LE POTENZIALITÀ DELLA SPETTROSCOPIA DI RAGGI-γ NEL RILEVAMENTO PEDOLOGICO DI SUOLI ARGILLOSI

Abstract

Gamma-ray spectroscopy surveys the intensity and distribution of γ-rays emitted from radionuclides of soils and bedrocks. The most important radionuclides of soils and rocks are: 40 K, 232 Th, 238 U and 137 Cs, the latter due to Chernobyl explosion or radioactive pollution. Distribution and quantity of these radionuclides in the soil are strictly linked to parent material mineralogy and soil cation exchange capacity. The aim of this work was to show the potential results of γ-ray proximal survey spectroscopy within experimental fields of clayey soils in western Sicily. The γ-ray spectrometer used for the fieldwork was “The Mole”, made by “The Soil Company”, “Medusa system” and the University of Groningen, Netherlands. During the survey of eight experimental fields, 55 soil samples were collected for laboratory analysis of particle size distribution, calcium carbonate, organic carbon and total nitrogen content. The results of the work show the statistical correlations between soil features and γ-ray data.