TITLE:
Radiological Effectual and Mineral Salts Measurements of Sandstone Used in the Construction from Al Wajh, Al Ula and North Al Ula, Az Zabirah-Saudi Arabia
AUTHORS:
Safia H. Q. Hamidalddin
KEYWORDS:
Gamma Spectrometer, AA Spectrometer, Natural Radioactivity, Chemical Elements
JOURNAL NAME:
Journal of Geoscience and Environment Protection,
Vol.10 No.9,
September
23,
2022
ABSTRACT: The activity concentrations of natural radionuclides 226Ra, 232Th
and 40K, were measured in (16) sandstone samples collected from two regions
of Saudi Arabia, Region 1 (Al Wajh on Red Sea coast and Al Ula north-East of
Medina), Region 2 (North of Al Ula and Az Zabirah, North-West of Hail) by (HPGe
gamma spectrometer). The activity concentration average values of the
radionuclides 226Ra, 232Th, and 40K in the
sandstone samples (Region 1)
ranged from 10.97 ± 0.43, 27.68 ± 0.37 and 64.56 ± 0.74 Bq/kg respectively. These values are less than the international values
reported by United Nations Scientific
Committee on the Effects of Atomic Radiation (UNSCEAR, 2000), in (Region 2), average values ranged from 2465.49 ± 0.00, 2042.00 ± 0.00 and 2259.65 ± 0.64 Bq/kg respectively. These values
are higher than the values reported by (UNSCEAR, 2000).
Average values of radium equivalent activity Raeq (Bq/Kg), absorbed dose
rate D (nGy/h),
annual effective radiation dose Deff (mSv/y), External index (Hex)
and Internal index (Hin) were in (region 1) 21.13, 27.22, 11.75, 0.07 and 0.10 respectively,
in (region 2)
5775.19, 1787.78, 846.58,
11.57 and 15.64 respectively. These results are lower (except annual effective
radiation dose) in (region 1) and
higher in (region 2) than the world recommended values by (UNSCEAR, 2000). Also, samples were analyzed
by Atomic Absorption spectrometer (AAS) for Al, Ca, Fe, K, Mg and Bi in %
elements concentrations. Average value in (region 1) (Al Wajh and Al Ula) are 4.42, 0.41, 1.37, 0.04
and 0.03, (in region 2) (N. Al Ula and Az Zabirah) are 12.50, 10.05, 1.01, 1.19, 0.04 respectively.
Classifications of sandstone depend on the content of these elements. These
results are important for the safety of dwellers and user of sandstone in
constructions.