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Mineralogy-induced radiological aspects with characterization of commercial granites exploited in Turkey

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Abstract

This study deals with natural radioactivity levels of the ten most important commercial granites from various districts currently being exploited as dimension stone in Turkey. Determining the level of radioactivity is important for human health, particularly for indoor use of granites. This study shows that the relationship between the natural radioactivity and the radiogenic mineralogical contents of the granites exploited for commercial utilization in Turkey is variable. The natural radioactivity levels (i.e., activity concentrations of radionuclides 226Ra, 232Th, and 40K) of granite samples were determined by high-resolution gamma-ray spectrometry. Using these activities, radiological hazard dose rates (absorbed and annual effective) and gamma-activity indexes were calculated using standard equations accepted by public health bodies, taking relevant international reports and guidelines into account. Three of the granites exploited in the Black Sea, Aegean, and Central Anatolia regions were found to be high in radium-equivalent activities and annual effective doses due to minerals bearing the radionuclides, including zircon, apatite, allanite, xenotime, uranothorite, K-feldspars, and biotite. Of those, uranothorite contains large amounts of radionuclides and is present in samples of granites collected from the Black Sea and Aegean regions. Radioactivity measurements using high-resolution gamma-ray spectroscopy serve as a rapid screening tool to evaluate natural radioactivity, whereas detailed petrographic, mineralogical, and elemental investigations can reveal the source of radioactive emissions in granites.

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Acknowledgments

This paper was prepared using the radioactivity data and their research methods of commercial granites exploited in Aksaray region (Turkey) in the PhD thesis of O. Serkan ANGI [in preparation, to be submitted to Istanbul Technical University (ITU) Institute of Science and Technology]. The authors would like to thank Prof. Dr. Paul A. Schroeder and Dr. Christopher J. Fleisher from University of Georgia Department of Geology (USA), and Prof. Dr. Yusuf Kağan Kadıoğlu from Ankara University Department of Geological Engineering (Turkey) for their generous and valuable contributions that significantly improved the manuscript.

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  1. Geological Engineering Department, Faculty of Mines, Istanbul Technical University, Ayazağa Campus, Maslak, 34469, Istanbul, Turkey

    O. S. Angı, O. Yavuz, T. Yalçın & E. Çiftçi

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  1. O. S. Angı
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  2. O. Yavuz
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Angı, O.S., Yavuz, O., Yalçın, T. et al. Mineralogy-induced radiological aspects with characterization of commercial granites exploited in Turkey. Bull Eng Geol Environ 76, 507–522 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10064-016-0894-2

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