Measurement and calculation of rare earth mine tailings radioactivity

It is of great significance to measure and calculate rare earth tailing radioactivity for the development of appropriate standards and exemption disposal. The total activity concentration of the three natural decay series (uranium series, thorium series, actinium series) was analyzed under the equilibrium and disequilibrium state according to the selected characteristic γ-rays. At the same time, we calculated the total activity concentration and the radioactivity for each radionuclide based on the general kinetic equations of decay chain and studied the trend of each radionuclide of thorium-series under different degrees of disequilibrium with time. The results demonstrated that the total radioactivity of α and β calculated in disequilibrium state was more closed to the actual measurement results compared to that in equilibrium state. In addition, the activity changes with time of thorium series in disequilibrium state are related to the initial activity concentration of the mother nuclide and ²²⁸Ra. If the activity concentration of ²²⁸Ra is less than that of ²³²Th, the total activity peak will be 10 times to maternal activity and appear after 60 a when the thorium series become balance again. If the activity concentration of ²²⁸Ra is greater than that of ²³²Th, the maximum total activity will appear in 3.82 a, and will be the sum of 4.57 times of the initial activity concentration of the mother nuclide and 5.25 times of the initial activity concentration of the first daughter ²²⁸Ra. Therefore, the rare earth tailings have been in disequilibrium state, and its total activity concentration should be determined based on the activity concentration of several feature radionuclides. In addition, the maximum value of the activity concentration is profitable to judge whether the activity concentration is fit with relevant regulations and standards. (authors)