5) - Summary
1. The radioactivity of a large number of volcanic gases from the craters, the fumaroles and hot springs in Japan is measured, and is never negligibly small, but often so large as comparable to that of the gases from the strongly radioactive mineral springs.
2. The existence of many radioactive elements such as Rn, RaA, RaB, RaC, Tn, ThA and ThB is confirmed in the volcanic gases, but An, isotope of Rn and Tn, is not yet found.
3. The variations of the radioactivity and the ratio (Tn/Rn) of volcanic gases are measured and the possibility for the detection of the variations of the volcanic activities is suggested.
4. The excessive distribution of Rn and Tn in the gas phase of fumaroles is a common phenomenon in the most fumaroles accompanied by hot waters in Japan. In many cases, these fumarolic gases are considered as the principal source of the radioactive substances in the hot spring waters situated closely to the fumaroles.
5. The mechanism of the introduction of the radioactive substances into the volcanic gases of fumaroles is discussed.
The cost of this investigation was defrayed from a grant given by the Scientific Research Encouragement Grant from the Department of Education, to which the authors wish to express their thanks.
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Iwasaki, I., Katsura, T., Shimojima, H. et al. Radioactivity of volcanic gases in Japan. Bull Volcanol 18, 103–123 (1956). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02596614
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02596614