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. 2022 Nov 17;10(11):697.
doi: 10.3390/toxics10110697.

Radiation Attenuation Assessment of Serpentinite Rocks from a Geological Perspective

Mostafa A Masoud  1 , Ahmed M El-Khayatt  2 , Mohamed G Shahien  1 , Bottros R Bakhit  3 , Ibrahim I Suliman  2 , Ahmed M Zayed  1
Affiliations

Radiation Attenuation Assessment of Serpentinite Rocks from a Geological Perspective

Mostafa A Masoud et al. Toxics. .

Abstract

Serpentinites are metamorphic rocks that are widely applied as aggregates in the production of radiation-shielding concrete. Different varieties of massive serpentinite mountains located in Egypt exist without real investment. Hence, this study aims to evaluate the radiation shielding efficacy of three varieties of serpentinite rocks from different geological perspectives: mineralogical, geochemical, and morphological characteristics. X-ray diffraction, transmitted-light microscopy, and thermal analysis were required to characterize their mineralogical composition, while X-ray fluorescence was necessary to investigate their geochemical features. Moreover, scanning electron microscopy was used to detect their morphological characteristics. On the other hand, the PuBe source and stilbene detector were employed for the experimental determination of fast neutrons and γ-ray attenuations, which were conducted at energy ranges of 0.8−11 and 0.4−8.3 MeV, respectively. Based on the mineralogical, geochemical, and morphological characteristics of these rocks, the radiation attenuation capacity of lizardite > antigorite > chrysotile. However, these serpentinites can be applied as a natural alternative to some radiation-shielding concrete in radiotherapy centers and other counterpart facilities.

Keywords: fast neutron; geochemical and mineralogical composition; morphology; serpentinite rock; shielding; γ-ray.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare no conflict of interest.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Satellite image showing the locations of the collected serpentinite rocks: AS sample from G. Umm Khasila, as well as LS and CS samples from Wadi Atalla.
Figure 2
Figure 2
Hand specimens of the three collected samples: (a) AS, (b) LS and (c) CS.
Figure 3
Figure 3
Experimental setup of the conducted radiation measurements.
Figure 4
Figure 4
A block diagram of experimental layout showing the electronic device of a fast neutron–gamma spectrometer with dynode assemblages of the photomultiplier tube.
Figure 5
Figure 5
Photomicrographs of serpentinite rocks in PPL and CPL: (a,b) In AS sample, veinlets of dolomite (Dol), chrysotile (Ctl), and magnetite (Mag) embedded in interpenetrating fibrolamellar antigorite (Ant) in CPL. (c,d) In LS sample, mesh texture of Lizardite (Lz) surrounded by Ctl and Mag forming hourglass microstructure. (e,f) In Cs sample, Mag and Dol veinlets crossing groundmass of white Ctl fibres, and (g) in CS sample, fresh reddish brown chromite (Chr) in the core corroded with Mag along fractures and peripheries.
Figure 6
Figure 6
XRD patterns of the three serpentinite rocks, AS, LS, and CS, revealing their mineral composition.
Figure 7
Figure 7
SEM images of the three serpentinite rocks illustrating their surface morphology and shape: (a) AS sample has a sub-rectangular shape with a rough surface, (b) LS with platy shape and a rough morphology, and (c) CS sample contains splintery and fibrous bundles with a smooth surface.
Figure 8
Figure 8
TG/DTG curves of studied rock samples.
Figure 9
Figure 9
Fast neutrons transmitted behind different thicknesses of the three serpentinite rocks at an energy range of 0.8–11 MeV.
Figure 10
Figure 10
γ-rays transmitted behind different thicknesses of the three serpentinite rocks at an energy range of 0.4–8.3 MeV.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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