Characteristics of Natural Background Radiation in the Polkowice-Sieroszowice Mine, Poland

Katarzyna Szkliniarz, Agata Walencik-Łata, Jan Kisiel, Kinga Polaczek-Grelik, Karol Jędrzejczak, Marcin Kasztelan, Jacek Szabelski, Jerzy Orzechowski, Przemysław Tokarski, Włodzimierz Marszał, Marika Przybylak, Krzysztof Fuławka and Sebastian Gola
Additional contact information
Katarzyna Szkliniarz: August Chełkowski Institute of Physics, University of Silesia in Katowice, 75 Pułku Piechoty 1, 41-500 Chorzów, Poland
Agata Walencik-Łata: August Chełkowski Institute of Physics, University of Silesia in Katowice, 75 Pułku Piechoty 1, 41-500 Chorzów, Poland
Jan Kisiel: August Chełkowski Institute of Physics, University of Silesia in Katowice, 75 Pułku Piechoty 1, 41-500 Chorzów, Poland
Kinga Polaczek-Grelik: NU-Med Cancer Diagnosis and Treatment Centre Katowice, Ceglana 35, 40-514 Katowice, Poland
Karol Jędrzejczak: National Centre for Nuclear Research, 28 Pułku Strzelców Kaniowskich 69, 90-558 Łódź, Poland
Marcin Kasztelan: National Centre for Nuclear Research, 28 Pułku Strzelców Kaniowskich 69, 90-558 Łódź, Poland
Jacek Szabelski: National Centre for Nuclear Research, 28 Pułku Strzelców Kaniowskich 69, 90-558 Łódź, Poland
Jerzy Orzechowski: National Centre for Nuclear Research, 28 Pułku Strzelców Kaniowskich 69, 90-558 Łódź, Poland
Przemysław Tokarski: National Centre for Nuclear Research, 28 Pułku Strzelców Kaniowskich 69, 90-558 Łódź, Poland
Włodzimierz Marszał: National Centre for Nuclear Research, 28 Pułku Strzelców Kaniowskich 69, 90-558 Łódź, Poland
Marika Przybylak: National Centre for Nuclear Research, 28 Pułku Strzelców Kaniowskich 69, 90-558 Łódź, Poland
Krzysztof Fuławka: KGHM CUPRUM Research & Development Centre, Sikorskiego 2-8, 53-659 Wrocław, Poland
Sebastian Gola: Faculty of Geoengineering, Mining and Geology, Wrocław University of Science and Technology, Na Grobli 15, 50-421 Wrocław, Poland

Energies, 2021, vol. 14, issue 14, 1-13

Abstract: Natural radioactivity in underground locations is the main parameter for the safety of work (occupational hazards) and for the success of experiments in physics or biology requiring unique conditions. The characterization of natural prominence was carried out in the Conceptual Lab development in one of KGHM deep copper mines co-ordinated by KGHM Cuprum R&D. Natural radioactivity studies were performed and included in situ gamma spectrometry, neutron flux measurements, radon concentration, and alpha and gamma laboratory spectrometry measurements of rock samples. At a depth of 1014.4 m (2941.8 m w.e.) within the anhydrite layer, a neutron flux of 2.0 ± 0.2 × 10 −6 cm −2 s −1 , a gamma-ray dose of 0.008 ± 0.001 μSv/h, a photon flux density of 0.64 ± 0.20 cm −2 s −1 , and a radon concentration of 6.6 Bq/m 3 were determined. Laboratory analyses of 226,228 Ra, 40 K, and 238,234 U concentrations in collected rock samples showed low values. The exceptionally low level of natural radioactivity in the Polkowice-Sieroszowice mine makes this location a unique place for scientific research.

Keywords: natural radiation; underground laboratory; radioisotopes concentration (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: Q Q0 Q4 Q40 Q41 Q42 Q43 Q47 Q48 Q49 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2021
References: View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (1)

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