A method for producing autoradiographs of rough surfaces

An autoradiographic technique has been developed to obtain radionuclide distributions on fracture surfaces. This technique is used to determine sorbed radionuclide distributions on geologic fracture surfaces but can be applied to any uneven surface that contains fixed radioactive deposits. The technique utilizes a photographic emulsion that is applied to a fine-weave cotton cloth held in contact with a fracture surface containing sorbed radionuclides. A qualitative determination of radionuclide distribution is obtained from the pattern of the autoradiograph