Investigation of structural and radiation shielding properties of natural granite, clay, natural cement, and quartz supplied from Hakkari region

This study aims to investigate the physical, structural, and radiation shielding properties of four rock types commonly used in natural cement, including clay, granite, and quartz originating from the Hakkari region of Turkey. Structural characterization was performed using ICP-MS, XRD, and FT-IR analyses. At the same time, radiation shielding effectiveness was determined through measurements of mass attenuation coefficient (MAC), linear attenuation coefficient (LAC), half-value layer (HVL), mean free path (MFP), effective atomic number (Zeff), energy buildup factor (EBF), and fast neutron removal cross-section (R) within the energy range of 80.99-383.84 keV. Results indicated natural cement possesses the highest MAC (0.097 cm2/g at 383.85 keV), LAC, and Zeff values, reflecting superior radiation shielding capability. Specifically, natural cement exhibited the lowest HVL (2.59 cm) and MFP (3.74 cm) values, demonstrating enhanced gamma-ray attenuation efficiency. Additionally, granite presented the highest fast neutron removal cross-section among the studied samples, indicating its potential application in neutron shielding. These findings show that geological materials obtained from Hakkari have a potential for effective radiation shielding, particularly in applications involving nuclear waste containment and protective structural materials.

Dergi

APPLIED RADIATION AND ISOTOPES

Yıl

2025

Cilt

225

ISSN

0969-8043

eISSN

1872-9800

DOI

10.1016/j.apradiso.2025.112097

WoS UID

WOS:001581119200002