Synonyms
Natural radiation; Terrestrial radiation
Definition
Natural radioactivity (NR) is predominantly due to the decay of 238U, 235U, 232Th (and their chains of daughter elements), 87Rb (27.8% of natural Rb), and 40K (0.012% of natural K). Early in the Earth’s history 244Pu (half life 82.6 Ma) also was an important radioelement. These are all primordial isotopes formed prior to the origin of the solar system. The list of natural radioisotopes also includes primordial 147Sm and 187Re and short-lived cosmogenic isotopes such as 10Be, 14C, and 26Al. Of all these elements, only U, Th (including daughter elements) Rb, and K represent significant sources of terrestrial natural radioactivity. U, Th, and daughters are emitters of alpha and beta particles and gamma rays; 87Rb emits beta particles, 40K is a beta and gamma emitter. Another source of NR are the cosmic rays, dominantly protons (and minor He nuclei) with a very wide range of energies. The higher energetic ones are of galactic...
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Hofmann, B.A. (2011). Radioactivity (Natural). In: Reitner, J., Thiel, V. (eds) Encyclopedia of Geobiology. Encyclopedia of Earth Sciences Series. Springer, Dordrecht. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4020-9212-1_171
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