[ RadSafe ] Soil gamma spec

[Edmond Baratta]

Ross

It is possible that Americium-241 from the 'older' type smoke detectors has 
made its way into the soil.  It's 59.5 Kev (35.9% abundance) peak along with 
it's lower energy peak @ 17.8 Kev (19.3 % abundance), should be easier to 
identify.  Since it is soil, it is very possible that Radium-226 is also 
present.

Ed Baratta

edmond0033 at comcast.net


----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Ross Beveridge" <rgb at rrbev.co.uk>
To: <radsafe at radlab.nl>
Sent: Monday, July 28, 2008 11:41 PM
Subject: [ RadSafe ] Soil gamma spec


>A decom project with minimal (no) history of likely contaminants.
>
> Some recent soil spec results show the presence of americium.
> Could soft X rays from radium be misinterpreted as an americium peak by 
> the
> gamma spec?
>
> Any input/advice etc. would be gratefully appreciated.
>
>
> Rgds
> Ross
>
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