Airborne Gamma-Ray Spectrometer Experiments Over the Canadian Shield

The Geological Survey of Canada and Atomic Energy of Canada Ltd. have produced a high sensitivity spectrometer for radiometric mapping of the Canadian Shield. During 1967 experiments were undertaken in the Bancroft and Elliot Lake areas of Ontario to determine the system parameters. Ground control was provided by measurements with field gamma-ray spectrometers on a 200-ft grid over 3 square miles. An experimental spectrometer employed three 5 x 5 in. (12.5 x 12.5 cm) diam. Nal (Tl) detectors, in order to record the full gamma - spectrum in real-time on magnetic tape. To provide the highest possible count-rates per unit distance at varying heights the spectrometer was flown in a helicopter at 25 mph (40 kmph). A study of the spectra obtained shows that the optimum spectral window widths for measuring the relative abundance of potassium, uranium and thorium are potassium, 40K 1.35 - 1.58 meV, uranium, 214Bi 1.65 - 1.88 meV; thorium, 208Tl 2.42 - 2.62 meV. The recorded data was subsequently processed through a PDP-9 computer to provide corrections for dead-time, Compton scattering and deviations from constant terrain clearance. Based on this work a much more sensitive airborne system was constructed in 1968 and installed in a twin-engined STOL aircraft. The system employs twelve 9 x 4 in. (23 x 10 cm) Nal (Tl) crystals. This detector volume provides a 10% (1 standard deviation) precision in corrected accumulated count in any of the three spectral windows when the aircraft measures radiation over an elapsed distance of 350 ft at a ground speed of 120 mph and 400 tt terrain clearance. The airborne system includes Doppler navigation, radar altimeter, and TV tracking camera equipment. (author)