Search

Zeolites are important additives materials which are widely used in different industries such as construction, paper, paint, agriculture, textile, and fertilizer. In this study, radiometric characterization of natural zeolite samples collected from four zeolite open quarries in Western Anatolia in Turkey were determined using a gamma-ray spectrometry with high purity germanium detector. The radiological risks due to the use of zeolite samples as raw materials in cement and concrete production was assessed for adult people by estimating activity concentration index and annual effective dose due to external exposure in indoor. Also, annual effective radiation dose in outdoor and the corresponding lifetime cancer risk were estimated for quarry workers. Average activity concentrations of 226Ra, 232Th and 40K measured in seventy-seven zeolite samples were found as 85 ± 4, 129 ± 2 and 1030 ± 24 Bq kg−1, respectively. The radon emanation factor and radon mass exhalation rate of zeolite samples varied from 1 to 9% with an average of 4% and 1.8–15.1 μBq kg−1 s−1 with an average of 7.2 ± 0.3 μBq kg−1 s−1, respectively. The data were compared with criteria or limit values. The results revealed that usage of the examined zeolite samples as building raw materials would not cause any significant radiological risk. • The natural radioactivity in Turkish zeolite minerals was determined using a gamma-ray spectrometry. • The radon emanation factors of zeolite minerals were determined using an indirect method. • Radon mass exhalation rates of zeolite minerals were determined using an indirect method. • Radiological risk assessment due to the use of zeolite samples as raw materials in construction sectors was performed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Luminescence dating is a chronological method that has been used extensively in terrestrial materials. In this study, we present Infrared Stimulated Luminescence (IRSL) dating results obtained for sediment and pottery samples taken from Yeni Rabat Church, Ardanuç, Artvin, Turkey. For this purpose, equivalent dose (ED) and annual dose rate (AD) of samples were measured. For annual dose rate, concentrations of radioactive isotopes (U, Th, K) were determined by using a high-purity germanium detector. For the equivalent dose, polymineral fine grain SAR (Single Aliquot Regenerative Dose) and MAAD (Multiple Aliquot Additive Dose) procedures were used. The optimal preheat temperature was determined for sediment and pottery samples. Ages were calculated by Aitken''s luminescence age calculation method, which found 710±190 years for the pottery sample and 1450±370 years, 1390±420 years, 1430±310 years, 2210±520 years and 1640±390 years for different sediment samples, respectively. These estimated age ranges support the theory that Yeni Rabat Church could have been constructed in medieval times. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]