
Neutron
Activation Analysis
Instrumental
neutron activation analysis (INAA) laboratory is located at AMD Headquarter,
Hyderabad. It is a nondestructive nuclear technique, employed to find
the elemental concentrations of Na, K, Ca, Sc, Cr, Fe, Co, Zn, Ga,
As, Br, Rb, Ag, Sb, Cs, Ba, La, Ce, Pr, Nd, Sm, Eu, Gd, Tb, Tm, Ho,
Yb, Lu, Hf, Ta, W, Au, Th and U. Measurements from percentage level
to ultra trace are possible by this technique. High purity germanium
co-axial/planar solid-state detector coupled to Bk PC based multichannel
analyser is employed for spectrum analysis after irradiating the
sample in CIRUS reactor of BARC.
This
facility exists not only at AMD Headquarter but also at all
the regional centers. This laboratory extends support to
the exploration programme by carrying out physical assay
of geological samples for uranium, thorium and potassium
by non-destructive radiometric techniques where gamma and
beta emissions
from radioactive minerals are measured. Total gamma activity
of the samples is measured for their content. The uranium,
thorium or potassium content of rock samples are determined
by measuring the characteristic gammas of these elements
using gamma-ray spectrometry. The equipment is developed
and fabricated in-house and consists of NaI (T1) crystal
(solid or well type) with four single channel analysers and
other counting set up or multi-channel analysers with predefined
regions of interest. In case the samples are in disequilibrium
state due to weathering and various geological reasons, low
energy gamma-ray spectrometry is resorted to for determination
of uranium along with radium, thorium and potassium, enabling
disequilibrium studies. This laboratory also provides the
facility for natural gamma ray logging of bore hole. The
concentration of eU3O8 is determined
in the range from ppm to percent level using either GM detector
or scintillation detector.
In addition, the laboratory at Hyderabad is also responsible for the preparation
and calibration of radiometric standards required for borehole
logging, shielded probe logging, sample and core assay work.

|