Geological Samples Pinpoint for Nuclear Forensics Examination in Thailand

The nuclear forensics laboratory was established in 2013 at Office of Atoms for Peace (OAP), Ministry of Science and Technology, Bangkok, Thailand. One of its functions is to collect data on uranium and thorium resources in Thailand. A Memorandum of Understanding between the Department of Mineral Resources (DMR), the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment and the Thailand Institute of Nuclear Technology, Ministry of Science and Technology. The purposes of the Memorandum of Understanding include the collection and the sharing of information about rare earth elements (REE) and naturally occurring radioactive material (NORM) to improve knowledge on the management for mineral resources; NORM monitoring; development of a national nuclear forensics database; and development of REE and nuclear material determination techniques. Uranium, thorium and REE which occur within monazite ore were surveyed by the DMR. The results show that U, Th and REE are associated together with tin and tungsten minerals. The REE occur in the form of phosphate minerals. In early 1970s, geologists discovered REE and other heavy minerals in significant amounts as secondary deposits and in the alluvial tin deposits in southern Thailand. In the 1980s, the DMR cooperated with Japan International Cooperation Agency in the evaluation of REE mineral deposits in northern Thailand. The highest REE contents found in southern Thailand was 0.092 wt%. Kritsananuwat et al. studied the REE, Th and U concentrations in marine sediments in the Gulf of Thailand and found a correlation between the source and element type. Currently, there are several techniques with which to identify the major and trace element contents of geological samples. The data from several analytical methods can be used for nuclear forensics purposes, which means that scientists examine the nuclear forensic signatures of geological samples. Nuclear forensics is the procedure for determining the origin of radioactive materials, nuclear material and contaminated evidence. The nuclear forensic laboratory undertakes the analysis of samples in order to identify material types, manufacturing company and fabrication process in support of any investigation. The Mary Kathleen mine in Australia is a classic case study for combining nuclear forensic capabilities with mining resources. This study compared the uranium and other trace element concentrations with several sources by using 13 characterization techniques.