Measurement of radioactivity of soil

[DR MW CHARLES <charlemw@novell1.bham.ac.uk>]

I have an MSc student who wants to carry out a small project to 
relate radon levels in soil (previously measured by another student)
to the uranium and thorium content of soil samples from a number of
sites in the UK.  In particular we want to investigate the dependence 
of radioactivity in soil to soil particle size.  Our initial thoughts were to use 
GeLi gamma spectrometry.  I would value some references to previous 
studies and in particular some guidance on preparation of samples, calibration
methods and required counting times.
Dr Monty Charles, Reader in Radiation Physics
School of Physics & Space Research
University of Birmingham
Edgbaston
Birmingham B15 2TT
England
TEL +44  0121 414 3483
FAX +44  0121 414 4725