J Radioanal Nucl Chem (2014) 302:1413–1415
DOI 10.1007/s10967-014-3730-9
Estimation of uranium in geological rock samples by beta–gamma
method and its comparison with pellet fluorimetry method
Rita • M. A. Nayeem • Gaur Diwakar •
G. B. Rout • B. K. Pandey • A. K. Sarangi
Received: 28 August 2014 / Published online: 29 October 2014
Ó Akadémiai Kiadó, Budapest, Hungary 2014
Abstract Geological rock samples collected from
Narwapahar uranium mines, UCIL, Jaduguda were ana-
lysed for the estimation of uranium concentration (U3O8)
by beta–gamma method which is a physical technique and
same set of samples were analysed by pellet fluorimetry
technique which is a chemical technique. 28 samples were
analysed by beta–gamma method and values varied
between 240 and 2,500 ppm. Samples were analysed by
pellet fluorimetry and values varied between 260 and
2,300 ppm. The results obtained were well comparable by
both the techniques.
Keywords Uranium  Beta–gamma method  Pellet
fluorimetry  Radium
Introduction
Determination of uranium concentration in geological rock
samples is essential for the uranium exploration pro-
gramme. Uranium concentration in rock samples can be
determined by several methods like gamma-ray spectrom-
etry, beta–gamma method, alpha spectrometry, etc. Ura-
nium concentration can be estimated by gamma-ray
spectrometry by measuring the 1.76 MeV emitted by 214Bi
Rita (&)  M. A. Nayeem  G. B. Rout  B. K. Pandey
Atomic Minerals Directorate for Exploration and Research,
Hyderabad, India
e-mail: reetaamd@rediffmail.com; rita.amd@gov.in
G. Diwakar  A. K. Sarangi
Uranium Corporation of India Limited, Jaduguda, India
of the uranium series provided the sample is in equilibrium.
Another nuclear technique is beta–gamma method which is
a simple, non-destructive, requires minimum handling of
the samples and suitable for routine analysis in uranium
exploration. It is a fast method, which is very useful in the
exploration programme. In this technique, uranium is
estimated irrespective of the disequilibrium in the uranium
series and presence of thorium in the rock sample [1, 2].
Geological rock samples collected from Narwapahar
uranium mines, UCIL were analysed for the estimation of
uranium concentration by beta–gamma method and also
the same set of samples were analysed by pellet fluorom-
etry technique.
Principle for beta–gamma method
Uranium can be estimated by measuring beta’s emitted by
234
Pa which is a daughter product of 238U whose half life is
1.17 min and is always in equilibrium with 238U. While
measuring the total beta, other than 234Pa, 232Th, 226Ra and
K group beta’s will also contribute. To remove the beta
contributions of 232Th and 226Ra group total gamma
counting is carried out. The contributions due to potassium
is removed by using aluminium filter.
The U3O8 content was determined using the following
equation:-
U3 O8 ¼ ð1 þ C ÞUb  CUc ð1Þ
where, Ub = beta activity of uranium = beta count/beta
sensitivity, Uc = gamma activity of uranium = gamma
count/gamma sensitivity C ¼ Rab =U b , relative contribu-
tion of uranium and radium groups to total beta activity.
To calculate the sensitivity, equilibrium uranium stan-
dard has been used.
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Table 1 Uranium concentration of sample by beta–gamma Method

and chemical method
Sample no. U3O8 by beta–gamma U3O8 by chemical
method (mg/kg) method (mg/kg)

1 542 ± 19 470
2 534 ± 22 450
3 1,143 ± 33 1,280
4 501 ± 19 490
5 892 ± 26 922
6 2,409 ± 66 2,230
7 469 ± 16 450
8 1,532 ± 41 1,540
9 600 ± 21 580
10 313 ± 16 280
11 216 ± 12 200
12 854 ± 31 940
Fig. 1 Schematic diagram of beta–gamma experimental set up
13 399 ± 15 420
14 238 ± 13 260
To calculate the ‘‘C’’ value dis-equilibrium uranium 15 295 ± 14 290
standard has been used. Detection limit of the beta–gamma 16 427 ± 20 450
method is 100 mg/Kg. 17 340 ± 15 320
In this method, density correction has to be applied if the 18 503 ± 18 510
concentration of U3O8 content is greater than 0.25 %. As 19 2,240 ± 60 2,160
the absorption curve is not a straight line so to avoid 20 478 ± 19 480
density correction, standard of comparable density must be 21 397 ± 17 440
used. 22 490 ± 18 440
23 314 ± 14 300
24 210 ± 11 200
Experimental setup for beta–gamma method 25 236 ± 13 250
26 212 ± 10 200
The beta–gamma technique involves simultaneous mea- 27 480 ± 21 500
surement of total beta and total gamma radiations emitted 28 633 ± 24 640
by various decay products of uranium series using pancake
GM detector of LND make and NaI(Tl) detector respec-
tively. The size of the NaI(Tl) detector used is 1’00 9 200 . Pellet fluorimetry
The beta tube is neon filled and halogen quenched.
Experimental setup is optimized to minimize the effect of Sample preparation
potassium and thorium on the estimation of U3O8 by
choosing the beta and gamma filters of appropriate thick- The geological rock samples are dissolved in acid and
nesses. Use of 6 mm brass absorber between sample and obtained in solution form. Uranium from sample solution is
NaI(Tl) detector curtails low energy gamma from U-series. extracted to an organic layer and which is in turn stripped
back to a platinum crucible and fused with flux of Na2O3
Sample preparation and NaF in the ratio of 4:1 at 850 °C resulting in a pellet.

The geological rock samples are powdered to -200 mesh Method

in quantities varying from 50 to 150 g which is sufficient to
ensure good sampling and sufficient counting rates. Here
the sample is taken in an aluminum container with diam-
eter 5 cm and height 1.6 cm holding around 50 g of sam-
ple. The sample container is placed between the two
detectors, thus geometry of the sample obtained is 2g as
shown in Fig. 1.
The pellets thus obtained are exposed to UV radiation
(365 nm) and the resulting fluorescence intensity
(k = 555 nm) is measured with a pre-calibrated pellet
fluorimeter [3]. Detection limit of this technique is 1 mg/Kg.
The U3O8 content of the sample obtained by beta–gamma
technique and pellet fluorimetry is tabulated in Table 1.

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J Radioanal Nucl Chem (2014) 302:1413–1415
Fig. 2 Comparison of U3O8
values obtained by beta–gamma
method and Pellet Fluorimetery
Figure 2 gives the comparison of U3O8 value obtained by
beta–gamma and pellet fluorimetry techniques.
Conclusion
28 samples were analysed for their U3O8 content with
values ranging from 240 to 2,500 mg/Kg by both the
methods. It was observed that all the values are comparable
and the standard deviation for all the samples is within
10 % limit. The regression coefficient is found to be 0.99.
IAEA uranium standard RGU-1 (assigned value 470
mg/Kg) has also been analysed by the beta–gamma method
and the obtained value is 463 ± 17 mg/Kg and value
obtained by pellet fluorimetry is 460 mg/Kg.
1415
Acknowledgments Authors are thankful to Shri P. S. Parihar,
Director AMD and Dr. S. Chandrasekharan, Additional Director (R &
D) for extending their support for the study. Also acknowledge the
officers and technicians of RSA for their valuable suggestions and
cooperation.
References
1. Eicholz GG, Hilborn JW, McMohan C (1953) Can J Phys 31:613
2. Ghosh P.C. (1972) Thesis submitted to Indian Institute of
Technology, Delhi for Ph.D.
3. Premadas A, Sarvanakumar G (2005) J Radioanal Nucl Chem
266(1):95
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