Ядерна фізика та енергетика Nuclear Physics and Atomic Energy   ISSN: 1818-331X (Print), 2074-0565 (Online)   Publisher: Institute for Nuclear Research of the National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine   Languages: Ukrainian, English   Periodicity: 4 times per year   Open access peer reviewed journal

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N. Walley El-Dine¹, A. El-Shershaby¹, S. Afifi², S. El-Bahi¹, E. Samir<sup>1

1</sup>Nuclear Physics Laboratory, Faculty of Girls, Ain Shams University, Heliopolis, Cairo, Egypt
²Nuclear Materials Authority, Cairo, Egypt

Abstract: By applying high-resolution γ-ray spectroscopic system, the various radionuclides of mica and quartz samples have been identified quantitatively. The specific activity of ²²⁶Ra, ²³²Th and ⁴⁰K in 25 mica samples collected from 5 locations and 15 quartz samples from 3 locations of geographical areas located in G. Kadabora in Central Eastern Desert of Egypt, were determined by gamma ray spectrometry with a high-purity germanium (HPGe) detector. This subject is important in environmental radiological protection, since mica and quartz are widely used as raw materials in different industries. The results of analysis for ²³⁸U, ²³²Th and ⁴⁰K specific activities were found to be higher than the permissible level for all mica and quartz samples. The radium equivalent activities in Bq/kg, dose rate in nGy/hr, external and internal hazards in nGy/yr and also (²³²Th/²³⁸U) ratios Clark’s value s are calculated. From this study, it is clear that G. Kadabora, Central Eastern Desert, Egypt can be considered unsafe to use as raw materials.

Keywords: natural radioactivity, mica and quartz, external hazard index.

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