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Reconnaissance for radioactive materials in the southern part of Brazil

Trace Elements Memorandum 1098
By: , , and 
https://doi.org/10.3133/tem1098

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Abstract

During 1954-1956 a reconnaissance for radioactive minerals was made with carborne, airborne and handborne scintillation equipment in the southern Brazilian states of Rio de Janeiro, Sao Paulo, Parana, Santa Catarina and Rio Grande do Sul. During the traverse covering more than 5,000 kilometers the authors checked the radioactivity of Precambrian igneous and metamorphic rocks, Paleozoic, Mesozoic and Cenozoic sedimentary rocks, and Mesozoic alkalic intrusive and basaltic extrusive rocks. The 22 samples collected contained from 0.003 to 0.029 percent equivalent uranium oxide and from 0.10 to 0.91 percent equivalent thorimn; two samples were taken from radioactive pegmati tes for mineralogic studies. None of the localities is at present a commercial source of uranium or thorium; however, additional work should be done near the alkalic stock at Lages in the State of Santa Catarina and at the Passo das Tropas fossil plant locality near Santa Maria in the state of Rio Grande do Sul. Near Lages highly altered alkalic rock from a dike contained 0.026 percent uranium oxide. At Passo das Tropas highly altered, limonite-impregnated sandstone from the Rio do Rasto group of sedimentary rocks contained 0.029 percent uranium oxide.

Suggested Citation

Pierson, C., Haynes, D., Filho, E.R., 1957, Reconnaissance for radioactive materials in the southern part of Brazil: U.S. Geological Survey Trace Elements Memorandum 1098, 19 p.; 1 fig. (in pocket); 5 tables, https://doi.org/10.3133/tem1098.

Publication type Report
Publication Subtype USGS Numbered Series
Title Reconnaissance for radioactive materials in the southern part of Brazil
Series title Trace Elements Memorandum
Series number 1098
DOI 10.3133/tem1098
Year Published 1957
Language ENGLISH
Description 19 p.; 1 fig. (in pocket); 5 tables
Additional publication details