Uranium prospecting with Rn in frozen terrain

Published reports show that ²²²Rn contents of soil gas can increase under snow-covered or frozen soils. By utilizing these observations and results of field tests described here, it can be stated that U prospecting with ²²²Rn in frozen terrain is practicable.Rn profiles in frozen and snow-covered soils over U mineralization in the Bancroft area of Ontario outlined known radioactive zones more clearly than did scintillometer profiles.Tests in Gatineau Park, Quebec, in the proximity of a radioactive pegmatite dike showed that lake ice acts as a restrictive barrier to Rn movement from lake waters beneath. Water samples, collected and allowed to freeze in plastic bottles, retained dissolved Rn quite effectively thus permitting sample collection and storage under the most severe winter conditions. Rn sampling of through-ice lake waters is therefore a feasible prospecting tool.Samples of spring run-off (snow-melt) waters and slushy snow collected from within a known weakly radioactive zone near South March, Ontario, were shown to contain less Rn than found in the same stream waters in the summer. No pronounced Rn degassing event of frozen soils was apparent early in the spring thaw in percolating run-off waters draining from the zone. The usefulness of spring thaw hydrogeochemistry using Rn is discussed.     

Distribution of radon sources and effects on radon emanation in granitic soil at Ben Lomond,California

The abundance and distribution of radioelements on bulk and microscopic scales were investigated in residual granitic-derived soil at a facility for investigating the movement of radon into structures. In bulk soil samples, Ra concentrations range from 0.6 to 1.3 pCi/g, and variations in Ra, Th, and K appear to be controlled mainly by heterogeneities inherited from the parent granitic rock, which contains abundant dikes and inclusions. U in soil and parent rock is concentrated in primary minerals (mainly zircon and sphene), and in secondary sites that are of greater importance for Rn emanation. The main U-bearing secondary sites are weathered sphene, grain boundary coatings, weathered biotite and plagioclase, as well as dense Fe-rich coatings and a REE-phosphate mineral present in near-vertical fracture zones in saprolite underlying shallow loam. Elevated U in these sites generally correlates with high Ti, Al, Fe, and/or P. Preferential distribution of U and Ra on grain boundaries and porous weathered minerals is reflected in relatively high Rn emanation rates in the soil. Highest emanation occurs between 1.3 and 2.3 m depth, where fine pedogenic phasesgibbsite and amorphous silica and Fe-OOH—are most abundant; it is related to fixation of Ra by these phases, which precipitate close to the surface and accumulate at these depths by illuviation. Separation of Ra from U may occur locally, given remobilization of U-series elements from secondary sites, and large differences between Ra and U sorption capabilities of several phases present in the soil. Concentration of U along permeable fracture zones in saprolite suggests that contribution of soil-gas Rn from depth (> 2 m) could be significant to Rn availability near the surface.     

铀矿地质勘探设施退役整治中氡析出率快速检测

多年来我国在铀矿地质勘探取得丰硕成果的同时,也遗留了一些退役的放射性废物污染源,整治这类污染源有利于公众安全,有利于保护生态环境.整治工作中一项重要的内容,就是野外对氡(Rn)元素析出率的检测,以往的检测方法分别为局部静态法、驻极体收集积分法和活性炭吸附法.现采用HDC-90环境测氡仪可快速检测氡元素析出率.     

液体闪烁测222Rn法及野外应用

本文介绍了一种新的野外测²²²Rn法——液体闪烁测²²²Rn法。该法取样时间短,操作简单,灵敏度高,重复性好,成本低廉,并能有效地克服钍射气的干扰。野外应用取得了较好的效果。     

Pedogeochemical models on prognosis and control of radon fluxes from humid tropical landscapes over granite

The principal relationships between radon (²²²Rn and ²²⁰Rn) exhalation intensities and the morpho-dynamic elements of humid tropical landscapes have been established and analyzed with the objective of elaborating Rn exhalation models, which can be used on the scale of small habitational nuclei. The current radioactive processes of generation, emanation and migration of Rn, in relation to its exhalation rates on a landscape slope of granitic rock having normal U and Th contents, were correlated with the latosol-podzolic soil association developed as a product of supergene processes during geological and pedological times and also with the water regime of an overlying phreatic aquifer. This approach, encompassing pedogeochemical models of radionuclide dispersion linked to soil systems and surface geochemistry, was framed within a tridimensional, interdisciplinary and systemic focus, using concepts of nuclear physics, climate and hydrogeology. The characteristic signatures of elementary landscapes include (1) different landforms, namely eluvial, transeluvial and superaqual, (2) residual soils having varying types, thicknesses and perma-porosities and (3) radioanomalies corresponding to different U and Th concentrations, secondary hosting minerals and also to different pedological ages. Considering these factors and their spatial relationships and on the basis of moisture content of soils, it is postulated that the highest Rn exhalation rates, especially of ²²²Rn, are confined to superaqual and transeluvial landscapes. In an eluvial landscape, the Rn fluxes are found to be less important even though gamma anomalies exist mainly due to the presence of resistant minerals containing U and Th. In short, the products of supergene alteration organized in a sloping system can exhibit Rn exhaling intensities higher than that measured on unaltered subjacent rock. Hence, the understanding of U, Th, Ra and Rn behavior on a surface environment is fundamental for the formulation of prognostic Rn exhalation models associated with the elementary humid tropical landscapes. Further, the pedogeochemical information provides important clues supplementing the lithostructural data for delineating preferential sites of Rn fluxes especially on scales compatible to small habitational nuclei or unitary dwellings.     

Measurements of ^222Rn and ^220Rn with a Large Size Collector of Radon Progeny

Radon concentrations in high background radiation areas in the south are higher than those of others in China, especially ^220Rn concentration is significantly high. Therefore, measurements of ^222Rn and ^220Rn concentrations should be carried out there. This paper introduces a large size collector of radon progeny and its applications. The collector is a sheet of polyvinyl chloride fiber with electrostatics of (-500 V)-(-700 V). Its size (60 mm in diameter) is larger than those of others (26 mm in diameter) that work with the same principle. The collector is more effective to adsorb radon progeny than most of others. The equipment of ZnS(Ag) Scintillation Counting System is available for large size collectors to detect radon progeny. Therefore, its sensitivity of measurement is higher than that of others. According to the different half lives of radon progeny, and based on both theory and experiments, a formula for discrimination and calculation of ^222Rn and ^220Rn concentrations is deduced. The ^222Rn and ^220Rn concentrations were surveyed with electrostatic collectors of radon progeny on the campus of commercial school and some other areas in Hainan, southern China. Neither ^222Rn nor ^220Rn concentration was found significantly high. However, several faults underground were delineated. The collector is also used to study radon transportation. Results indicate that radon changes regularly with date when it has transported for a certain distance. Velocities of radon migration in the four media are quite different. Radon migrates more quickly in vertical tube than in the horizontal tube.     

我国油气化探的现状与发展趋势

近年来,油气化探理念发生了两大转变,即:油气化探研究由点(油气藏)到面(全国主要含油气盆地)、由浅(近地表)入深(井下);油气化探已由以普查为主发展到概查、普查、详查、精查等4个级次阶段。近年来,我国油气化探取得了重大进展。化探方法技术得到了发展,基础理论研究有所进展,开发了新的测试技术,研制了新的数据处理与解释评价系统,建立了中国主要含油气盆地油气化探数据库。 展望了油气化探的发展趋势。     

Seasonal variations of helium,radon, and uranium in lake waters near the Key Lake uranium deposit,Saskatchewan

To test the usefulness of the He method for the detection of buried U ore, a lake-water survey of the Key Lake area was carried out during March 1977 and repeated in June 1977. A set of 87 lake-water samples from 37 sites in eight different lakes were collected from the same sites in each survey. These samples were analyzed for He, Rn, O₂, Eh, pH, conductivity, alkalinity, and U.In the lakes the highest He concentrations, of nearly four times atmospheric equilibrium concentrations, were obtained during the winter survey. This was under the ice in two bottom lake samples where the sandy overburden extends for some 50 m directly to the ore zone. Radon and U values at these sites were also anomalous, but the highest values of Rn and U were obtained in a shallow lake about 2 km south of the ore zone where concentrations of radioactive boulders occur.The average net He and Rn contents dropped from 21 standard nanolitres/litre (nl/l) and 25 picocuries/litre (pCi/l) in the winter under the ice to 3 nl/l and 8 pCi/l in the summer, respectively. Average U and conductivity dropped from 2.3 ppb and 15 μmho/cm to 1.5 ppb and 11 μmho/cm, respectively, in the same suites of samples. The drop in the ionic species probably reflects the effect of snow and ice meltwater dilution and the much larger drop in the dissolved He and Rn reflects the combined effects of meltwater dilution, wind turbulence over ice-free lakes, and change in thermal gradients.The He results must be viewed with guarded optimism until a detailed investigation is completed to ascertain what fraction of the detected He is from the ore, what fraction from basement He that may have found its way into the lakes via the fracture zone in which the ore is located, and what effect drilling has had on the He flow into the lakes from the ore zone.     

土壤地球化学测量发展历程与进展

土壤地球化学测量作为一种重要的勘查技术方法,历经近百年的发展历程,自从1932年苏联地质学家费尔斯曼、谢而盖耶夫等开展地球化学找矿尝试以来,其在矿产勘查、生态、环保等领域均取得了丰硕成果和长足发展.本文基于前人研究成果基础之上,通过对土壤地球化学测量发展历程回顾,通过其在多目标领域运用,在有色金属、贵金属、油气矿产、放...     

放射性方法在DZ地区探测天然气藏有效性的研究

本文介绍了ＤＺ地区应用氡管法、α径迹法、地面γ能谱法及水中铀含量测量等放射性方法探测天然气藏的依据和效果。根据放射性测量资料，圈出了ＤＺ地区油气放射性异常（带）。对比结果表明：这些异常分布在地震勘探圈定出的ＤＺ鼻状隆起上，后者被钻探结果证实为含天然气的构造，有力地说明放射性方法探测天然气藏的有效性。最后，根据放射性异常分布特征和地质资料，总结出断鼻天然气藏的放射性异常模式。     

Radioactive elements in natural gas: a case study on distribution of gaseous 222radon and its origin mechanism

As natural gas becomes increasingly important in our daily life, studies have been carried out on trace elements such as mercury and arsenic within it. Other than those, the existence of radioactive gaseous radon from the combustion of natural gas indoors can cause severe diseases and damages to body organs, putting a hazardous impact on human health. At the same time, the radon can also corrode gas production and transportation equipment. A review of the literature on radon concentrations in natural gas produced from gas reservoirs in China and other countries have been studied. Radon is a decay product from ²³⁸U, which is closely related to the accumulation and migration of organic matter during diagenesis. Gas recovered from reservoirs with higher than average natural ²³⁸U contains higher than average levels of ²²²Rn. Massive fault systems and fracture zones appear to play a significant role in radon concentrations in natural gas.     

A comparison of field and laboratory analytical methods for radon site investigation

Soil-gas radon measurements provide a valuable tool in assessing probable indoor radon levels on a regional basis. However, in Great Britain, seasonal weather changes can cause large changes in soil-gas radon concentration. Although this does not significantly constrain systematic radon potential mapping programmes, it does cause difficulties in responding to ad-hoc requests for site-specific radon investigations. The relationship between soil-gas radon and gamma spectrometry measurements made in the field with radon released from a representative sample of soil in the laboratory has been investigated as part of a program to develop a method of radon potential mapping and site investigation which can be used at any time of the year. Multiple soil and soil-gas samples were collected from sites underlain by bedrocks with widely varying radon potentials. For each geological unit, sites both free of and covered by glacial drift deposits were sampled. Soil and soil-gas samples were taken at the same depth of 60–100 cm. The effectiveness of these radon site investigation procedures has been evaluated by studying the relationship between the soil-gas radon, gamma spectrometry and radon emanation data with an independent estimate of the radon risk. The geologic radon potential (GEORP), which is the proportion of existing dwellings which exceed the UK radon Action Level (200 Bq m⁻³) for a particular combination of solid and drift geology within a defined geographic area, has been used for this study as the independent estimate of radon risk. Soil-gas radon, radon emanation and eU (equivalent uranium by field γ spectrometry) are all good geochemical indicators of radon risk (GEORP) in Derbyshire but only soil-gas radon correlates significantly with GEORP in Northamptonshire. Radon in soil gas discriminates more effectively between sites with different radon potential in Northamptonshire if soil permeability is also taken into account. In general, measurement of soil-gas radon in the field provides the most universally applicable indicator of radon potential. If soil-gas radon concentrations cannot be determined because of climatic factors, for example when the soil profile is waterlogged, measurement of radon emanation in the laboratory or measurement of eU can be used as radon potential indicators in some geological environments. This applies particularly in areas where the soil composition rather than the composition and permeability of the underlying rock or superficial deposits are the dominant controls of radon potential. It appears, therefore, that it may be necessary to use different radon site investigation methods according to the specific factors controlling radon emanation from the ground. In some cases no method will provide a reliable indicator of radon risk under unfavourable climatic conditions.     

矿井氡监测与评价探讨

氡是气态的放射性物质,它广泛存在于岩石和土壤的孔隙中、地下水中和空气中。近年来,由于认识到氡被吸入人体后所产生的内辐射是导致肺癌的原因之一,因而受到各国的重视。本文介绍了部分煤矿氡浓度的现状,分析了影响矿井氡浓度的主要因素,提出了监测方法和评价意见,从而有利于对矿井氡的监测与治理,并为煤田地质勘探工作提供了值得参考的资料。      

Mechanism of transport of U-Th series radioisotopes from solids into ground water

A set of experiments conducted to understand the mechanism responsible for release of large quantities of ²²²Rn from solids into ground water reveals that a major part of Rn moving into the intergranular water comes from within the grains (solids), not by recoil from the outer surface. We have deduced that the solids we have studied are permeated, to a varying degree, with pores having very large wall area but very small volume, i.e., having width of opening of the order of 10–20 nm. Recoil from the walls of these openings introduces Rn and other isotopes into the water contained in these openings (nanopores). Radon, an inert gas, is able to diffuse from nanopore water into the intergranular water in substantial quantities. In contrast, nongaseous isotopes of the U-Th series recoiled into the nanopore water in comparable quantities are adsorbed within the nanopores on the large internal area available there. Further, it appears that a large part of the inventory of long-lived isotopes produced by decay of radon in intergranular water is slowly transported to and adsorbed on the large internal area available in the nanopores. Thus, most of the inventory of all long-lived non-gaseous emanation isotopes exist in an adsorbed state in the nanopores, while radon is located in intergranular water.     

瑶沟等地区勘查金矿的放射性和非放射性气体地球化学方法的研究

本文介绍了瑶沟等地区勘查金矿的放射性和非放射性气体地球化学方法的研究成果：基本查明了应用本方法勘查金矿的主要条件是金矿中伴生有足够的Ｕ，Ｈｇ和碳酸盐矿物；研制成了壤中气（Ｒｎ－ＣＯ２）联测技术，提高了测量质量和探测深部矿体的能力；利用壤中气（Ｒｎ－ＣＯ２）异常进行了成矿预测，并已获得成功。     

应用核地球物理方法勘探研究张浦盐矿区断裂系统

本文介绍应用氡管法和α卡法探测张浦盐矿区的隐伏断构造。结果表明，该盐矿区存在有东西向及北东向两组断裂。根据观测结果推测出该区裂系统。     

大地构造相方法在铜矿预测中的应用——以山东五莲-诸城地区为例

随着全国大地构造相划分方案日渐成熟,如何运用大地构造相方法找矿成为近几年的新课题。对此该文提出一种新的找矿思路：以已知矿产地的大地构造相（亚相）特征作为前提条件,结合已知矿产地地质、物化探找矿标志,在覆盖区圈定根据物化探特征推断出存在与已知矿产地具有相同或相似的岩石构造组合的地区,即为成矿预测区。该文以五莲一诸城地区为例,以五莲县七宝山铜矿作为已知矿产地,应用上述找矿思路,在诸城市瓦店镇附近圈定了铜矿预测区,该方法对其他矿种预测也有借鉴意义。     

关于油气勘查与开采中氡和镭测量的应用问题

本文介绍了放射性同位素氡和镭测量在油气勘查与开采中的某些应用和相应的机理。     

非震综合物化探油气预测

目前非震综合物化探方法油气预测研究中存在的主要问题有 :一方面缺乏系统与综合的基础性理论研究 ,异常形成的机理还不十分清楚 ;另一方面在参数的优化组合及异常的求取上尚有诸多不足。针对后一方面的状况 ,选择了松辽盆地东岭构造作为实验区进行探索。选取低能吸附烃、放射性测氡及土壤热释光 3类参数进行了优化组合 ,利用人工神经网络技术计算了组合熵 ,然后对各值采用泛克里格法求取异常 ,取得了良好的效果 ;并指出下一步研究应从异常形成的机理入手 ,建立三维非震综合物化探油气预测模式 ,这是提高油气预测成功率的可行途径之一。     

新世纪俄罗斯找矿地球化学

在系统跟踪研究国内外地质期刊文献的基础上,梳理了新世纪找矿地球化学面临形势和存在的重大问题,全面总结了近十年来,俄罗斯有关找矿地球化学基础理论和方法论、区域地球化学调查方法与应用,以及地质-地球化学找矿模型的研制与应用等众多方面的思路和做法。研究认为,俄罗斯首创的多目标地球化学填图技术可有效地提高国家地质图的质量,为矿产资源量的综合评价和生态环境的评估及一系列基础问题的解决,提供详细的信息。同时,还指出俄罗斯地球化学家为解决新世纪的找矿问题,加大了技术创新,重点聚焦于提高地球化学找矿信号的衬度和强度,提高运用地质-地球化学找矿模型的效用,完善处理地球化学数据的计算技术,以实现地球化学场与地质、地球物理场的综合等,诸创新点和思路值得参考借鉴。