Determining the radon exhalation rate from a gold mine tailings dump by measuring the gamma radiation

2015 ◽  
Vol 140 ◽  
pp. 16-24 ◽  
Author(s):  
Joash N. Ongori ◽  
Robert Lindsay ◽  
Richard T. Newman ◽  
Peane P. Maleka
Keyword(s):  
Gamma Radiation ◽  
Mine Tailings ◽  
Gold Mine ◽  
Radon Exhalation Rate ◽  
Exhalation Rate ◽  
Radon Exhalation ◽  
Gold Mine Tailings

Measurements of radon exhalation from a South African gold mine tailings using sealed tube method

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
F.S. Komati ◽  
R. Strydom ◽  
O.M. Ntwaeaborwa
Keyword(s):  
South African ◽  
Mine Tailings ◽  
Mining Area ◽  
Mean Value ◽  
Gold Mine ◽  
Exhalation Rate ◽  
Radon Exhalation ◽  
Radon Gas ◽  
Gold Mine Tailings ◽  
Radon Exhalation Rates

To date, approximately 6000 tons of uranium has been disposed of onto tailings dams per year by gold mining activities in South Africa. These uranium bearing tailings dumps contain significant amounts of radium and are therefore possible sources of substantial amounts of radon gas. Due to the large sizes of these dams, measurements of the radon exhalation for the whole dam using established and conventional methods become time consuming and labour intensive. In this study, radon exhalation rates from a gold mine tailings dam around mining area of Odendalsrus were measured using passive “sealed tube” method and CR-39 gas etched track monitors known as Radon Gas Monitors (RGMs). Twenty samples were collected at the depths ranging from 90 cm to 1 m from the tailings for exhalation rate measurements. Radon exhalation rates from these samples were found to vary from 0.0410 ± 0.0042 Bq/m2 · s to 0.440 ± 0.045 Bq/m2 · s with a mean value of 0.102 ± 0.021 Bq/m2 · s and a standard deviation of 0.087 Bq/m2 · s. The results of these measurements show very high radon exhalation rate and radium content from one particular sample which requires further investigations.

Measurement of radon exhalation from a gold-mine tailings dam by γ-ray mapping

2004 ◽  
Vol 71 (3-4) ◽  
pp. 797-798 ◽  
Author(s):  
R. Lindsay ◽  
R.J. de Meijer ◽  
A.D. Joseph ◽  
T.G.K. Motlhabane ◽  
R.T. Newman ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Mine Tailings ◽  
Gold Mine ◽  
Tailings Dam ◽  
Radon Exhalation ◽  
Gold Mine Tailings ◽  
Γ Ray

Analysis of the Ventilation Effects on Radon-222 Exhalation in a Dead-End Tunnel

2015 ◽  
Vol 713-715 ◽  
pp. 304-313
Author(s):  
Shu Guang Wang ◽  
Wei Yang ◽  
Qing Chen ◽  
Jian Hua Chen ◽  
Cong Han
Keyword(s):  
High Temperature ◽  
Ambient Temperature ◽  
Natural Ventilation ◽  
Weather Conditions ◽  
Calculation Model ◽  
Radon Exhalation Rate ◽  
Exhalation Rate ◽  
Radon Exhalation ◽  
Exhaust Ventilation ◽  
Dead End

The regularity of radon exhalation rate in the over-broken granite tunnel is susceptible to weather conditions and ventilation styles. Based on the calculation model of radon exhalation in tunnel, some experiments have been carried out to analyze the variations of radon exhalation in cases of natural ventilation, blowing ventilation and exhaust ventilation separately. The results show that there is a linear relation between the radon exhalation and the natural ventilation quantity, and also between the radon exhalation and the ambient temperature; the radon exhalation in the case of exhaust ventilation is 63% higher than that in the blowing case under the condition of the same ventilation quantity and ambient temperature. Therefore, it is suggested that operation in the tunnel in high temperature be avoided in summer, and the blowing ventilation be adopted as an effective way for ventilation.

scholarly journals Outdoor 222Rn behaviour in different areas of Slovakia

Nukleonika ◽  
2016 ◽  
Vol 61 (3) ◽  
pp. 281-288 ◽  
Author(s):  
Karol Holý ◽  
Monika Műllerová ◽  
Martin Bulko ◽  
Oľga Holá ◽  
Terézia Melicherová
Keyword(s):  
Time Series ◽  
Significant Influence ◽  
Activity Concentration ◽  
Sandy Soils ◽  
Simple Approach ◽  
Radon Exhalation Rate ◽  
Exhalation Rate ◽  
Hilly Terrain ◽  
Radon Exhalation ◽  
Linear Dependency

Abstract Radon activity concentration (RAC) in the outdoor atmosphere was monitored in four localities of Slovakia. The distance between the localities were up to 130 km. The localities had a diverse orography, ranging from flatland to hilly terrain. A significant influence of orography and 226Ra and 222Rn content in soil on diurnal time series of RAC was found. A simple approach of determining radon exhalation rate from soil based on the increase of RAC from daily minima to maxima and removal characteristic of radon is presented. A linear dependency between radon exhalation rate from the soil and RAC in the soil gas at a depth of 0.8 m was found for sandy soils.

scholarly journals Potential utilization of artisanal gold-mine tailings as geopolymeric source material: preliminary investigation

2018 ◽  
Vol 1 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
John Paul J. Aseniero ◽  
Einstine M. Opiso ◽  
Marybeth Hope T. Banda ◽  
Carlito B. Tabelin
Keyword(s):  
Mine Tailings ◽  
Preliminary Investigation ◽  
Source Material ◽  
Gold Mine ◽  
Gold Mine Tailings

scholarly journals Effect of Ultrasonic Treatment on Radon Exhalation from Porous Media: An Experimental Case Study

2018 ◽  
Vol 10 (9) ◽  
pp. 3005
Author(s):  
Ling-feng Xie ◽  
Shu-liang Zou ◽  
Xiang-yang Li ◽  
Chang-shou Hong ◽  
Hong Wang ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Porous Media ◽  
Moisture Content ◽  
Ultrasonic Wave ◽  
Linear Correlation ◽  
Experimental Results ◽  
Radon Exhalation Rate ◽  
Exhalation Rate ◽  
Radon Exhalation ◽  
Experimental Apparatus ◽  
Positive Linear Correlation

Radon is internationally recognized as one of the seven seismic precursors. A self-assembly ultrasonic generator and experimental apparatus for radon measurement were utilized to explore the radon exhalation regularities of water-bearing porous media under different ultrasonic intensities. The experimental results showed that there was a coupling relationship among radon exhalation rate, moisture content, and ultrasonic frequency. With the increase of the frequency of the ultrasonic wave, its effect on the promotion of radon exhalation rate was found to be a more obviously positive linear correlation. The radon exhalation rate, which could climb to a maximum value of 0.179 Bq·m−2·s−1 in a naturally air-dried sample, increased at first and then decreased along with increased moisture content. Moreover, this study found that the ultrasonic wave had the most remarkable promoting effects on the radon exhalation rate of porous media with high moisture content, and there is a positive linear correlation between the growth rate of the radon exhalation rate and moisture content. The experimental results could provide a beneficial reference for the continual monitoring of radon in a seismically active belt and an explanation of radon anomalies; however, the proposed experimental model was simplified, so further insights are strictly required for a reliable correlation with the real monitoring of radon in a seismically active belt.

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