First measurements of 236 U concentrations and 236 U/ 239 Pu isotopic ratios in a Southern Hemisphere soil far from nuclear test or reactor sites
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Froehlich (previously Srncik) , Michaela; Tims, Stephen; DeCesare, Mario; Fifield, L Keith
Description
The variation of the 236U and 239Pu concentrations as a function of depth has been studied in a soil profile at a site in the Southern Hemisphere well removed from nuclear weapon test sites. Total inventories of 236U and 239Pu as well as the 236U/239Pu isotopic ratio were derived. For this investigation a soil core from an undisturbed forest area in the Herbert River catchment (17°30' - 19°S) which is located in north-eastern Queensland (Australia) was chosen. The chemical separation of U and...[Show more]
dc.contributor.author | Froehlich (previously Srncik) , Michaela | |
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dc.contributor.author | Tims, Stephen | |
dc.contributor.author | DeCesare, Mario | |
dc.contributor.author | Fifield, L Keith | |
dc.date.accessioned | 2015-12-10T22:55:07Z | |
dc.identifier.issn | 0265-931X | |
dc.identifier.uri | http://hdl.handle.net/1885/59956 | |
dc.description.abstract | The variation of the 236U and 239Pu concentrations as a function of depth has been studied in a soil profile at a site in the Southern Hemisphere well removed from nuclear weapon test sites. Total inventories of 236U and 239Pu as well as the 236U/239Pu isotopic ratio were derived. For this investigation a soil core from an undisturbed forest area in the Herbert River catchment (17°30' - 19°S) which is located in north-eastern Queensland (Australia) was chosen. The chemical separation of U and Pu was carried out with a double column which has the advantage of the extraction of both elements from a relatively large soil sample (~20g) within a day. The samples were measured by Accelerator Mass Spectrometry using the 14UD pelletron accelerator at the Australian National University. The highest atom concentrations of both 236U and 239Pu were found at a depth of 2-3cm. The 236U/239Pu isotopic ratio in fallout at this site, as deduced from the ratio of the 236U and 239Pu inventories, is 0.085±0.003 which is clearly lower than the Northern Hemisphere value of ~0.2. The 236U inventory of (8.4±0.3)×1011 at/m2 was more than an order of magnitude lower than values reported for the Northern Hemisphere. The 239Pu activity concentrations are in excellent agreement with a previous study and the 239+240Pu inventory was (13.85±0.29)Bq/m2. The weighted mean 240Pu/239Pu isotopic ratio of 0.142±0.005 is slightly lower than the value for global fallout, but our results are consistent with the average ratio of 0.173±0.027 for the southern equatorial region (0-30°S). | |
dc.publisher | Elsevier | |
dc.source | Journal of Environmental Radioactivity | |
dc.title | First measurements of 236 U concentrations and 236 U/ 239 Pu isotopic ratios in a Southern Hemisphere soil far from nuclear test or reactor sites | |
dc.type | Journal article | |
local.description.notes | Imported from ARIES | |
local.identifier.citationvolume | 132 | |
dc.date.issued | 2014 | |
local.identifier.absfor | 029904 - Synchrotrons; Accelerators; Instruments and Techniques | |
local.identifier.ariespublication | u4155331xPUB515 | |
local.type.status | Published Version | |
local.contributor.affiliation | Froehlich (previously Srncik) , Michaela, College of Physical and Mathematical Sciences, ANU | |
local.contributor.affiliation | Tims, Stephen, College of Physical and Mathematical Sciences, ANU | |
local.contributor.affiliation | DeCesare, Mario, College of Physical and Mathematical Sciences, ANU | |
local.contributor.affiliation | Fifield, L Keith, College of Physical and Mathematical Sciences, ANU | |
local.description.embargo | 2037-12-31 | |
local.bibliographicCitation.startpage | 108 | |
local.bibliographicCitation.lastpage | 114 | |
local.identifier.doi | 10.1016/j.jenvrad.2014.02.022 | |
dc.date.updated | 2015-12-10T07:47:26Z | |
local.identifier.scopusID | 2-s2.0-84896036108 | |
local.identifier.thomsonID | 000336357000014 | |
Collections | ANU Research Publications |
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