In situ measurements of natural radioactivity in selected igneous rocks of the Opava Mountain region

Abstract

In situ gamma-ray measurements of four igneous rocks were taken in the Opava Mountains (Eastern Sudetes, Poland). The activity of naturally occurring radionuclides was measured using a portable GX3020 gamma-ray spectrometry workstation. The activity concentrations of 40K varied from 914 ± 17 Bqkg-1 (gneiss, Kamienna Góra) to 2019 ± 37 Bqkg-1 (weathered granite, Sławniowice), while those of 232Th from 7.5 ± 0.6 Bqkg-1 (weathered granite, Sławniowice) to 68 ± 0.9 Bqkg-1 (migmatitic gneiss, Nadziejów). The activities associated with 238U decay series ranged from 10 ± 0.4 Bqkg-1 (weathered granite, Sławniowice) to 62 ± 1.6 Bqkg-1 (gneiss, Kamienna Góra). The results will be used in compiling Radiological Atlas of the Sudetes.