Multimode analysis of traces of niobium in a geological matrix by charged particle activation

A novel method of multimode α-particle activation analysis of traces of niobium in geological materials has been established. Different nuclear reactions, namely, 93Nb(α,n)96Tc, 93Nb(α,2n)95mTc, 93Nb(α,2n)95Tc, 93Nb(α,3n)94mTc, 93Nb(α,3n)94Tc and 93Nb(α,αn)92mNb, that take place due to interactions from a 40 meV beam of α-particles with niobium at the different degraded energy levels in the target matrix have been utilized to determine traces of niobium in phosphate rocks. Before irradiating the experimental samples, niobium tracers were preconcentrated in an Al2O3 matrix and the effects of the interferences due to the contaminants in the γ-ray spectrometric analysis of the activated samples are discussed in detail. The corroboration of the results derived from different nuclear reactions ensures the reliability and efficiency of the technique of charged particle activation analysis in geochemical as well as geophysical studies of niobium. (Author)