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Radiometric Assay

This facility exists not only at AMD Headquarter but also at all the regional centers. The laboratory extends support to the exploration programme by carrying out physical assay of geological samples for uranium, thorium and potassium by non-destructive radiometric techniques where gamma and beta emissions from radioactive minerals are measured. Total gamma activity of the samples is measured for their   content. The uranium, thorium or potassium content of rock samples are determined by measuring the characteristic gammas of these elements using gamma-ray spectrometry. The equipment is developed and fabricated in-house and consists of NaI (Tl) crystal (solid or well type) with four single channel analysers and other counting set up for multi-channel analysers with predefined regions of interest.  In case the samples are in  disequilibrium state due to weathering and various geological reasons, low energy gamma-ray spectrometry is resorted to for determination of uranium along with radium, thorium and potassium, enabling disequilibrium studies.

The laboratory also provides the facility for natural gamma-ray logging of bore hole and core assay of the borehole core samples. The concentration of eU3O8 is determined in the range from ppm to percent level using either GM detector or scintillation detector.

In regions, these tasks are carried out by the Physics Laboratory located in each region. The Regional Physics laboratories also carry out repair and maintenance of instruments available with them.

In addition, the laboratory at Hyderabad is also responsible for the preparation and calibration of radiometric standards required for borehole logging, shielded-probe logging, sample and core assay work.

 

Neutron Activation Analysis

Instrumental neutron activation analysis (INAA) laboratory is located at AMD Headquarter, Hyderabad. It is a nondestructive nuclear technique, employed to find the elemental concentrations of Na, K, Ca, Sc, Cr, Fe, Co, Zn, Ga, As, Br, Rb, Ag, Sb, Cs, Ba, La, Ce, Pr, Nd, Sm, Eu, Gd, Tb, Tm, Ho, Yb, Lu, Hf, Ta, W, Au, Th and U. Measurements from percentage to ultra trace levels are possible by this technique.  High purity germanium co-axial/ planar solid-state detector coupled to PC-based multichannel analyser is employed for spectrum analysis after  irradiating the sample in CIRUS reactor of BARC.

 

Petrology
Electron Micro Probe
Spectrograph
X R D
X R F
Geochronology
Radiation Standards and Analysis
Instrumentation
Chemistry
Mineral Technology
Ore Dressing

 

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