Neutron Activation Analysis Of Geological Materials

See journals under US Geological survey. Circular 957.

Clay mineral and soil samples were subjected to neutron activation analysis in order to identify and measure the abundances of trace elements having radionuclides with long half-lives. After exposure of cadmium-shielded samples to neutrons for a period of five days, the gamma radiation associated with the decay of the resulting radionuclides was observed using a high resolution Ga(Li) detector. Trace elements identified without prior chemical separation using the gross gamma-ray spectra included Fe, Zn, Ti, Ni Co, Cr, Sr, Ba, Ca, La, Eu, Tb, Hf, Ta, Th, and U. It should be possible to determine quantitatively the amount of each of these elements. This is a considerable improvement over the number of elements determined in soils previously by activation analysis without destructive chemical treatments. (Author).