Measurement and Calculation of Rare Earth Mine Tailings Radioactivity

Key words: 
• rare earth /
• mine tailing /
• disequilibrium /
• activity concentration

Abstract: It is of great significance to measure and calculate rare earth tailing radioactivity for the development of appropriate standards and exemption disposal. The total activity concentration of the three natural decay series (uranium series, thorium series, actinium series) was analyzed under the equilibrium and disequilibrium state according to the selected characteristic  γ-rays. At the same time, we calculated the total activity concentration and the radioactivity for each radionuclide based on the general kinetic equations of decay chain and studied the trend of each radionuclide of thorium-series under different degrees of disequilibrium with time. The results demonstrated that the total radioactivity of and calculated in disequilibrium state was more closed to the actual measurement results compared to that in equilibrium state. In addition, the activity changes with time of thorium series in disequilibrium state are related to the initial activity concentration of the mother nuclide and 228Ra. If the activity concentration of 228Ra is less than that of 232Th, the total activity peak will be 10 times to maternal activity and appear after 60 a when the thorium series become balance again. If the activity concentration of 228Ra is greater than that of 232Th, the maximum total activity will appear in 3.82 a, and will be the sum of 4.57 times of the initial activity concentration of the mother nuclide and 5.25 times of the initial activity concentration of the first daughter 228Ra. Therefore, the rare earth tailings have been in disequilibrium state, and its total activity concentration should be determined based on the activity concentration of several  feature radionuclides. In addition, the maximum value of the activity concentration is profitable to judge whether the activity concentration is fit with relevant regulations and standards.