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

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.