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Cumulative neutron activation of short-lived radionuclides for the analysis of large samples in mineral exploration

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Abstract

Cumulative neutron activation is used to determine mg/kg concentrations of gold in rock samples, weighing 10 g. Twenty 0.5 g replicates are irradiated in an epithermal-neutron flux for 5 s and counted for 14 s. The twenty spectra are summed, and gold is measured with the 279 keV gamma-ray of197mAu (7.2 s). Total analysis time for a 10 g sample is 400 s and detection limits around 2 mg/kg are achieved in gold ores, sulfides and silicates.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Imperial College Reactor Centre, Silwood Park Sunninghill, SL5 7PY, Ascot, Berkshire, (UK)

    S. J. Parry

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  1. S. J. Parry
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Parry, S.J. Cumulative neutron activation of short-lived radionuclides for the analysis of large samples in mineral exploration. Journal of Radioanalytical and Nuclear Chemistry, Articles 112, 383–386 (1987). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02132370

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02132370

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