Elemental analysis of soils from Toshki by using instrumental neutron activation analysis techniques

Instrumental neutron activation analysis has allowed performing a complete characterization of the chemical composition of thirty soil samples soil samples from ten locations collected from the Toshki area in Upper Egypt. The samples were irradiated with thermal neutrons at the Mainz TRIGA research reactor. Gamma-ray spectra were recorded using a high efficiency HPGe detector to determine the contents of major, minor and trace elements in these samples. As a result of the analysis, altogether 32 elements were identified qualitatively and quantitatively. These elements are: Al, As, Ba, Ca, Ce, Co, Cr, Cs, Eu, Fe, Ga, Hf, K, La, Lu, Mg, Mn, Na, Nb, Nd, Rb, Sc, Sm, Sn, Ta, Ti, Th, U, V, Yb, Zn and Zr. In several cases, X-ray fluorescence analysis was used for comparison. The results obtained for U and Th were compared with data reported in literature. (author)