Measurement of natural radioactivity from copper-gold mine tailings storage facility in Benguet Province, Philippines

Authors

Ronah C. Rollan ⋅ PH Nuclear Materials Research Section, DOST−Philippine Nuclear Research Institute
Cris Reven L. Gibaga ⋅ PH Nuclear Materials Research Section, DOST−Philippine Nuclear Research Institute
Jessie O. Samaniego ⋅ PH Nuclear Materials Research Section, DOST−Philippine Nuclear Research Institute
Alexandria M. Tanciongco ⋅ PH Nuclear Materials Research Section, DOST−Philippine Nuclear Research Institute
Rico Niel M. Quierrez ⋅ PH Nuclear Materials Research Section, DOST−Philippine Nuclear Research Institute
John Henry C. Gervasio ⋅ PH Nuclear Materials Research Section, DOST−Philippine Nuclear Research Institute
Fern Rose A. Peregrino ⋅ PH Nuclear Materials Research Section, DOST−Philippine Nuclear Research Institute
Lawrence Glen F. Sabaria ⋅ PH Nuclear Materials Research Section, DOST−Philippine Nuclear Research Institute
Anie Felicia P. Rasay ⋅ PH Nuclear Materials Research Section, DOST−Philippine Nuclear Research Institute

Abstract

In Benguet Province, Philippines, a large scale copper-gold mine has been operational and has established tailings storage facilities (TSF) since 1955. In this study, we measure the activity concentration of ²³⁸U, ²³²Th, and ⁴⁰K from twelve (12) sampling points in one of its tailings storage facilities (TSF), specifically in TSF-1 using a handheld gamma-ray spectrometer on February 28, 2023. From the analysis, we found that the activity concentration of ²³⁸U, ²³²Th, and ⁴⁰K are in the range of 3.70−13.6 Bq⋅kg⁻¹, 1.60−7.30 Bq⋅kg⁻¹, and 0.00−313 Bq⋅kg⁻¹, respectively. These measurements are relatively low compared to the activity concentrations of other countries and the world average.

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Issue

2023: Proceedings of the 41st Samahang Pisika ng Pilipinas Physics Conference

Physics: Connecting islands of knowledge
19-21 July 2023, Del Carmen, Siargao Island

Please visit the SPP2023 activity webpage for more information on this year's Physics Congress.

Article ID

SPP-2023-3D-06

Section

Earth Systems Physics

Published

2023-06-24

How to Cite

[1]

RC Rollan, CRL Gibaga, JO Samaniego, AM Tanciongco, RNM Quierrez, JHC Gervasio, FRA Peregrino, LGF Sabaria, and AFP Rasay, Measurement of natural radioactivity from copper-gold mine tailings storage facility in Benguet Province, Philippines, Proceedings of the Samahang Pisika ng Pilipinas 41, SPP-2023-3D-06 (2023). URL: https://proceedings.spp-online.org/article/view/SPP-2023-3D-06.