Abstract
A new environmental in-ground radioactivity monitoring technique using LiF thermoluminescence dosimeters was tested in the Culpeper Basin, Northern Virginia. The dosimeters were buried at a depth of 0.45 m (∼ 18 in.) for approximately four months. There was a significant positive correlation (at the 99.9% confidence level) between the total accumulated radioactivity signal from the dosimeters and the on-site 100 second gamma-ray spectrometer measurements. The minimum-maximum dose rate from the buried thermoluminescence dosimeter measurements was 0.06 to 1.08 mR per day (or 2.5 to 44.5µR per hour).
There are two factors which permit better background levels of radioactivity to be established by thermoluminescence dosimeters compared with other methods for environmental monitoring programs. First is the great sensitivity of thermoluminescence dosimeters in terms of minimum dose rate that can be registered (mR per month orµR per hour). Second is the fact that accumulation of radioactivity signal over a long period of time tends to eliminate short-term environmental changes that affect measurements with gamma-ray spectrometers and scintillation counters.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
References Cited
Johnson, S. S., 1979, Radioactivity surveys: Virginia Minerals, v. 25, p. 9–14.
Johnson, S. S., T. M. Gathright, W. S. Henika, 1979, Gammaray spectrometry and geologic mapping: Virginia Minerals, v. 25, p. 17–23.
Klusman, R. W., and J. D. Webster, 1981, Meteorological noise in crustal gas emission and relevance to geochemical exploration: Jour. Geochemical Exploration, v. 15, p. 63–76.
Lindholm, R. C., 1979, Geologic history and stratigraphy of the Triassic-Jurassic Culpeper Basin, Virginia: Geol. Soc. America Bull., Part II, v. 90, p. 1702–1736
McCarthy, J. H., Jr., 1972, Mercury vapor and other volatile components in the air as guides to ore deposits: J. Geochem. Explor., v. 1, p. 143–162.
McDougall, D. J., 1968, Thermoluminescence of Geological Materials: Academic Press, London, 678 p.
Nielsen, B. L., and V. Mejdahl, 1970, Gamma-ray logging by means of thermoluminescence dosimeters: Danish Atomic Energy Commission, Riso Rept. no. 219, 17 p.
Nielsen, B. L., and L. Botter-Jensen, 1973, Natural background radiation levels from areas of major geological units in Greenland, determined by means of thermoluminescence dosimetry: Modern Geology, 4, 119–129.
Sherrington, G. H., 1977, Some aspects of natural gamma radiation in ore search, in C. R. M. Butt and I. G. P. Wilding, eds., Geochemical Exploration 1976 J. Geochem. Explor., 8, 325–335.
Siegel, F. R., 1974, Applied Geochemistry: Wiley Interscience, New York, 353 p.
Smith, R. C., 1979, Radon detection using thermoluminescence dosimeters in uranium exploration: In Uranium exploration techniques, G. R. Parslow, ed., Saskatchewan Geol. Soc. Spec. Publ. no. 4, p. 85–108.
Vaz, J. E., and R. S. Sifontes, 1978, Radiometric survey using thermoluminescence dosimetry in the Cerro Impacto (Venezuela) thorium deposit: Modern Geol., v. 6, p. 147–152.
Zimmerman, D. W., C. R. Rhyner, and J. R. Cameron, 1967, Thermal annealing effects on the thermoluminescence of lithium fluoride, F. H. Attix, ed., Proceedings of the Int'l Conf. on Luminescence Dosimetry, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, U.S.A.E.C., p. 86–100.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Siegel, F.R., Lindholm, R.C. & Vaz, J.E. In-ground environmental radioactivity monitoring in the Culpeper Basin, Virginia, using LiF thermoluminescence dosimeters. Geo 4, 67–74 (1982). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02415761
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02415761