Radioactivity Measurements of the Jos Tin Mine Tailing in Northern Nigeria
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Scholars Research Library
Abstract
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The activity concentrations of 226Ra and232Th in Jos Tin mine tailings and its environment were
measured using Hyper-pure Germanium detector (HPGe). Preset counting time of 30,000s was used
for each sample to avoid statistical errors. Results showed the activities varied from one site to
another. The activities of 226Ra and232Th are much higher than the recommended average limit given
by UNSCEAR in the mining sites and even at 500 m away from the mining site. At 1 Km away
from the mining site the activity measured is within the limit for normal background. The ratio of
activity of Thorium to Radium is greater by factor of 5 in all the samples in the mining site and 500 m
away which should be about unity. The mean absorbed doses (1828.66, 252.08 and 171.07 nGyh-1) for
Site1, Site2 and 500m from mining site respectively in air are equally high compared with (51
nGyh-1). Also, the estimated effective dose equivalents are much higher than the recommended limit
except for 1 Km from the mining site. There is need to improve waste management practices in this
industries in order not to expose those living and working in this environment to health hazards
associated with these radionuclides
Keywords
QC Physics, TN Mining engineering. Metallurgy