TY  - JOUR
AU  - Cagno, Simone
AU  - Lind, Ole Christian
AU  - Popic, Jelena Mrdakovic
AU  - Skipperud, Lindis
AU  - De Nolf, Wout
AU  - Nuyts, Gert
AU  - Vanmeert, Frederik
AU  - Jaroszewicz, Jakub
AU  - Janssens, Koen
AU  - Salbu, Brit
TI  - Micro-analytical characterization of thorium-rich aggregates from Norwegian NORM sites (Fen Complex, Telemark)
JO  - Journal of environmental radioactivity
VL  - 219
SN  - 0265-931X
CY  - New York, NY [u.a.]
PB  - Elsevier
M1  - PUBDB-2020-03760
SP  - 106273 (1-10)
PY  - 2020
AB  - In this study we performed microscopic characterization of mineral particles that were collected in the thorium-rich Fen Complex in Norway and identified and isolated based on autoradiography in function of their radioactivity. For this we combined information obtained with X-ray absorption μ-CT, μ-XRF and μ-XRD, both in bi- and in three-dimensional (tomographic) mode. We demonstrate that radionuclides and metals are heterogeneously distributed both within soil samples and within individual Th-enriched aggregates, which are characterised as low-density mineral bulk particles with high density material inclusions, where Th as well as several metals are highly concentrated. For these sites, it is important to take into account how these inhomogeneous distributions could affect the overall environmental behaviour of Th and progeny upon weathering due to human or environmental factors. Moreover, the estimated size of the Th-containing inclusions as determined in this work represents information of importance for the characterization of radionuclides and toxic metals exposure, as well as for assessing the viability of mining for Th and rare-earth metals in the Fen Complex and the associated environmental impact.
LB  - PUB:(DE-HGF)16
C6  - pmid:32339145
UR  - <Go to ISI:>//WOS:000535130500005
DO  - DOI:10.1016/j.jenvrad.2020.106273
UR  - https://bib-pubdb1.desy.de/record/449376
ER  -