DETERMINATION OF RA-226, TH-232, K-40 AND CS-137 ACTIVITIES IN SOILS AND BEACH SANDS AND RELATED EXTERNAL GAMMA DOSES IN ARIKLI MINERALIZATION AREA (AYVACIK/TURKEY).

Abstract

Uranium mineralization areas may jeopardize public health and surrounding natural life. In the current study for radioactivity and geochemical analyses, 43 soil, 5 rock and 10 beach sand samples were collected in and around Arkl (Ayvack, Turkey) uranium mineralization area. Radioactivity levels in the soils (up to Ra-226: 629, Th-232: 240, K-40: 3669 Bq/kg) were found higher than the that of beach sands. Besides, radioactivity of the beach sand samples is found at normal levels (avg: Ra-226: 31, Th-232: 31, K-40: 542 Bq/kg) when compared to worldwide average soil. Dose values indicate that the region have similar to three times higher average gamma radioactivity than the corresponding world average although measured gamma doses ranged up to 687 nGy/h. The high measured values are related to uranium mineralization, alteration zones, faults and Arkl tuff.