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Radioactivity of Nevada Hot‐Spring Systems
Author(s) -
Wollenberg H. A.
Publication year - 1974
Publication title -
geophysical research letters
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.007
H-Index - 273
eISSN - 1944-8007
pISSN - 0094-8276
DOI - 10.1029/gl001i008p00359
Subject(s) - tufa , hot spring , spring (device) , calcareous , radionuclide , geology , accelerator mass spectrometry , mass spectrometry , mineralogy , natural radioactivity , radiochemistry , geochemistry , environmental science , carbonate , chemistry , nuclear physics , physics , mechanical engineering , paleontology , organic chemistry , engineering , chromatography
Field gamma radiometry and laboratory gamma‐ray spectrometry of waters and spring deposits were accomplished for some hot‐spring systems in northern Nevada. Gamma‐ray exposure rates measured on‐site range from 2 to 500 µR/hr, and depend mainly on the amounts of the natural radioelements in the spring deposits. High radioactivities, primarily from 226 Ra, are associated with hot‐spring systems dominated by CaCO 3 , while silica‐dominated systems are relatively low in radioactivity. Gamma spectrometry disclosed the enrichment of 226 Ra with respect to its parent U in CaCO 3 dominated systems. 226 Ra preferentially associates with Ca; therefore, where tufa and siliceous sinter are present in a deposit, the calcareous material is highest in radioactivity. Spring deposits at fast‐flowing CaCO 3 dominated systems are generally less radioactive than calcareous deposits at slower flowing springs.