Metodyka określania koncentracji pierwiastków promieniotwórczych frakcji pylastej wydzielonej z przedkarpackich utworów mioceńskich

The research was performed on seven samples of Miocene rocks collected from the core. The selected material was represented by sandstones, mudstones and claystones. The main goal of the work was to separate the silt fraction and to determine its impact on the level of radioactivity of the Miocene rocks of the Carpathian Foredeep. In this study, the silt fraction separation method developed in the Well Logging Department of INiG – PIB was used. Wentworth classification was used to determine the size of the silt, assuming its range from 4 to 63 µm. The selected rock material was prepared in several stages using the methods of freezing, sieving, centrifugation and sedimentation. Additional tests, including mineralogical XRD, chemical XRF and matrix density measurements were performed to determine the rock types and their properties. A number of radiometric tests were performed to determine the content of natural radioactive elements. The analyses were carried out on a small number of tests because of their long preparation and limited material availability. Reliable determination of the parameters of individual grain fractions required verification and improvement of the applied research methods. Radiometric measurements determining the natural content of potassium 40K, uranium 238U and thorium 232Th were carried out in the RT-50 equipped with a three-inch NaI(Tl) crystal. In the first place, standard analyses were conducted for dried and crushed samples of Miocene claystones, mudstones and sandstones. Further measurements were made on the separated silt fraction and in the case of one sample, also on the remaining fractions (clay and sand). In this case, the analyses were carried out repeatedly using a new procedure enabling the determination of radioactive elements in low-mass samples. The results of the work allowed approximate determination of the natural gamma radioactivity of the silt. An important conclusion is that, silt is no more radioactive than the other components of the rock. This paper also attempted the estimation of the impact of heavy mineral content on the natural radioactivity of the Miocene rocks. For tests purpose, minerals with a density above 2.85 g/cm3 were separated from the rock samples and a series of analyses were carried out once again. The obtained results were minimally understated but close enough to the samples before separation. It can be concluded that the heavy minerals in the tested samples do not affect the total radioactivity of the rocks in the research area.