7th BALKANMINE CONGRESS – Proceedings, Prijedor 2017

DOI: 10.7251/BMC170702223A

ASSESSMENT OF NATURAL RADIOACTIVITY IN LIGNITE MINING

Hüseyin ANKARA1, Süheyla YEREL KANDEMİR2, Haydar ARAS1

1
Eskisehir Osmangazi University, Eskisehir, Turkey, hankara@ogu.edu.tr, haras@ogu.edu.tr
2
Bilecik Şeyh Edebali University, Bilecik, Turkey, syerel@gmail.com

ABSTRACT

Energy is one of the most important tool of civilization. The lignite is probably the most important
source of fossil fuel. But some elements in lignite are natural radioactive. The natural radioactive
elements such as radium (226Ra), thorium (232Th) and potassium (40K ) is important in lignite mining.
The present work was investigated the radioactive elements including 226Ra, 232Th and 40K in
Tuncbilek lignite mining, Kutahya (Turkey).

Keywords: Energy, natural radioactivity, Tuncbilek lignite mine, Turkey.

1. INTRODUCTION
Energy is one of the indispensable elements in securing the economic development of a
country. Because coal has been produced and used for many years, it is indispensable among
other energy sources [1-3].
Natural radioactivity is common in the earth. The radioactivity is become in soil, water etc.
Natural radiation is composed from terrestrial and cosmic sources [4]. Environmental natural
gamma radiation is the most important participant to the external dose of the world's
population [5].
In this paper natural radioactivity elements including radium (226Ra), thorium (232Th) and
potassium (40K ) was assessed in Tuncbilek lignite mining, Kutahya (Turkey).

2. MATERIAL AND METHODS

2.1. Sample collection

Turkish lignite has been widely used in Turkey. Reserves are concentrated in Kutahya,
Zonguldak, Sivas, Nevşehir, Afşin Elbistan etc. .
Kutahya province is located in the western part of Turkey. Kutahya covers approximately 1.5
% of the terrain of Turkey [6-7]. Kutahya region is one of the important lignite regions of
Turkey. In this study, a total of three lignite samples were collected Tuncbilek region in
Kutahya, Turkey. These lignite sample names are Tuncbilek A panel 82. m. lignite (ST1),
Tuncbilek A panel 140. m. (ST2) and Tuncbilek A panel 260. m. (ST3).

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2.2. Gamma-ray spectroscopy analysis

Gamma-ray spectroscopy is a method in which radionuclides are determined and analyzed by

the gamma rays. Gamma ray spectrometers are beneficial in the analysis of energy spectra [8].
In this paper, gamma-ray spectroscopy method were examined of 226Ra, 232Th and 40K in three
Tuncbilek lignite samples (ST1, ST2 and ST3).

3. RESULT AND DISCUSSION

Three lignite samples (ST1, ST2 and ST3) were collected Tuncbilek region in Kutahya were
crashed and homogenized in the laboratory. These samples were analyzed by Gamma-ray
spectroscopy. Gamma-ray spectroscopy results show that the Table 1.

Table 1. The natural radionuclides of 226Ra, 232Th and 40K in lignite (Bq/kg)
Natural radionuclides
Sample no 226 232 40
Ra Th K
ST1 22.9±2.4 39.4±2.2 109±15
ST2 71.1 ±3.7 28.5±2.1 88.3±19.4
ST3 25.3±4.2 38.5±7.1 71.3±27.7

The concentration of 226Ra in the lignite samples is as follows; ST1 is 22.9±2.4 Bq/kg; ST2 is
71.1 ±3.7 Bq/kg and ST3 is 25.3±4.2 Bq/kg. The concentration values of 232Th in lignite
samples; ST1 is 39.4±2.2 Bq/kg; ST2 is 28.5±2.1 Bq/kg and ST3 is 38.5±7.1 Bq/kg. and the
values of 40K in lignite samples are given below; ST1 is 109±15 Bq/kg; ST2 is 88.3±19.4
Bq/kg and ST3 is 71.3±27.7 Bq/kg.

4. CONCLUSION

Gamma-ray spectroscopy analysis is the widely used method for investigating natural
radionuclides in soil, lignite etc. samples. The natural radioactivity of 226Ra, 232Th and 40K
were analyzed in three different lignite samples by using the gamma- ray spectroscopy. The
concentration of 226Ra in the lignite samples is as follows; ST1 is 22.9±2.4 Bq/kg; ST2 is 71.1
±3.7 Bq/kg and ST3 is 25.3±4.2 Bq/kg. The concentration values of 232Th in lignite samples;
ST1 is 39.4±2.2 Bq/kg; ST2 is 28.5±2.1 Bq/kg and ST3 is 38.5±7.1 Bq/kg. and the values of
40
K in lignite samples are given below; ST1 is 109±15 Bq/kg; ST2 is 88.3±19.4 Bq/kg and
ST3 is 71.3±27.7 Bq/kg. Finally, the gamma- ray spectroscopy analysis show that the analysis
of the radioactivity in lignite mine.

Acknowledgement
This work was supported by Scientific Research Project Commission of Eskisehir Osmangazi
University (Project Number: 2015-705).

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