Portal de Periódicos da CAPES

Measurement of 238U, 232Th and 40K in boreholes at Gosa and Lugbe, Abuja, north central Nigeria

2013; Oxford University Press; Volume: 157; Issue: 2 Linguagem: Inglês

10.1093/rpd/nct140

1742-3406

Maxwell Omeje, H. Wagiran, Norliza Ibrahim, Siak Kuan Lee, Soheil Sabri,

Geophysical and Geoelectrical Methods

The purpose of this project is to evaluate the suitability of different sites as locations for obtaining underground water for consumption. The analysis of 238U, 232Th and 40K from rock samples from each layer of borehole at a depth of ∼50 m at Site A borehole, S3L1–S3L6 in Gosa and 40 m at Site B borehole, S4L1–S4L5 in Lugbe, Abuja, north central Nigeria is presented. The gamma-ray spectrometry was carried out using a high-purity germanium detector coupled to a computer-based high-resolution multichannel analyzer. The activity concentrations at Site A borehole for 238U have a mean value of 26±3, ranging from 23±2 to 30±3 Bq kg−1, 232Th a mean value of 63±5, ranging from 48±4 to 76±6 Bq kg−1 and 40K a mean value of 573±72, ranging from 437±56 to 821±60 Bq kg−1. The activity concentrations at Site B borehole for 238U have a mean value of 20±2, ranging from 16±2 to 23±2 Bq kg−1, 232Th a mean value of 46±4, ranging from 43±4 to 49±4 Bq kg−1, 40K a mean value of 915±116 and ranging from 817±103 Bq kg−1 to 1011±128 Bq kg−1. It is noted that the higher activity concentrations of 232Th and 238U are found in Site A at Gosa. Site B has lower radioactivity, and it is recommended that both sites are suitable for underground water consumption.