An official website of the United States government
Here’s how you know
Official websites use .gov
A .gov website belongs to an official government organization in the
United States.
Secure .gov websites use HTTPS
A lock (
) or https:// means you’ve safely connected to the .gov website. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites.
A field instrument for quantitative determination of beryllium by activation analysis
A low-cost instrument has been developed for quantitative determinations of beryllium in the field by activation analysis. The instrument makes use of the gamma-neutron reaction between gammas emitted by an artificially radioactive source (Sb124) and beryllium as it occurs in nature. The instrument and power source are mounted in a panel-type vehicle. Samples are prepared by hand-crushing the rock to approximately ?-inch mesh size and smaller. Sample volumes are kept constant by means of a standard measuring cup. Instrument calibration, made by using standards of known BeO content, indicates the analyses are reproducible and accurate to within ? 0.25 percent BeO in the range from 1 to 20 percent BeO with a sample counting time of 5 minutes. Sensitivity of the instrument maybe increased somewhat by increasing the source size, the sample size, or by enlarging the cross-sectional area of the neutron-sensitive phosphor normal to the neutron flux.
Suggested Citation
Vaughn, W., Wilson, E., Ohm, J., 1960, A field instrument for quantitative determination of beryllium by activation analysis: U.S. Geological Survey Circular 427, 9 p. :illus. ;27cm., https://doi.org/10.3133/cir427.
ISSN: 2330-5703 (online)
Publication type
Report
Publication Subtype
USGS Numbered Series
Title
A field instrument for quantitative determination of beryllium by activation analysis