Study of natural background radiation in Callio Lab (Finland)

The Callio Lab is one of the six underground laboratories participating in the BSUIN project. The natural background radiation (NBR) measurements were performed in Callio Lab (located in the Pyhäsalmi Mine (Finland)) in July 2018 by a group from the University of Silesia, Katowice, Poland. The NBR measurement carried out at a depth of 1436 m (~4000 m w.e.) in the felsic volcanic bedrock occurs.

The in-situ measurements were done in few localizations (Lab 2, Lab 1) by using gamma ray high-purity germanium (HPGe) semiconductor spectrometer and a RAD7 electronic radon detector (Durridge Company, Inc.). The main measurements were performed in Lab 2 near the far right corner of the experimental hall (dimension: 9 m x 15 m x 8 m; MP1). Additionally, two more measurements have been performed at the central points of Halls 2 and in Hall 1 (localizations MP2 and MP3). On the Fig. 1. the scheme of Lab with measuring points (MPs) and pictures of detectors’ during measurements are presented.

Fig.1. (a) the scheme of Lab 2 with measuring points (MPs); pictures of detectors’ positions: (b) HPGe spectrometer in MP1, (c) HPGe spectrometer and RAD7 monitor in MP2, (d) HPGe spectrometer in MP3 positioned in Hall 1.


The integral count up to 2700 keV, the photon flux density, assessed on the base of full-energy peaks, and the total effective dose in three investigated localizations are presented  in Tab. 1. The main contributors to the effective dose for investigated localization MP1 are 40K (35%), 214Bi (26%), from uranium series and 208Tl (22%) from thorium series.

Tab. 1. The results of in-situ measurement estimated on the base gamma ray spectrum and radon concentration measured in three localizations in Callio Lab. 

 


The concentration of 222Rn has been determined using RAD7 air-analyser. The measurements lasted 24–48 h with 1 h sampling time and did not show any time dependent structure. The results are presented in Tab. 1 and Fig. 3.

Fig. 3. Comparison of the radon concentration in MP1, MP2 and MP3 localizations.


Additionally, rock and water samples were collected in and outside the Lab 2 and were analysed in Institute of Physics University of Silesia in Katowice (Poland). The radium and uranium concentration in water samples were measured by using liquid scintillation α/β counting (414 WinSpectral α/b LSC from Wallac) and alpha spectrometry techniques (α – spectrometer 7401VR from Canberra – Packard), respectively. While, the uranium, radium, thorium and potassium concentration in rock samples were measured by using alpha and gamma spectrometry technique. Before measurements of the radioisotopes by using α spectrometry and LSC technique the appropriate radiochemical procedures were applied [1-3].

The concentrations of uranium isotopes in rock samples varied from 1.4 ± 0.2 Bq/kg to 211 ± 10 Bq/kg and from 1.6 ± 0.2 Bq/kg to 212 ± 10 Bq/kg for 234,238U, respectively. The concentrations of radioisotopes (estimated by using HPGe detector) varied greatly depending on the place of sample collection in Lab 2. The values of 8.1 ± 0.4 Bq/kg to 188.2 ± 5.1 Bg/kg (average 45.6 Bq/kg) for 226Ra, of 2.6 ± 0.3 Bq/kg to 53.8 ± 3.1 Bq/kg (average 25.3 Bq/kg) for 232Th and of 104 ± 10 Bq/kg to 1136 ± 47 Bq/kg (average 453.8 Bq/kg)  for concentrations of 40K were estimated.

In investigated water samples from Hall 2 Lab 2 the uranium 238U concentrations was below 0.5 mBq/L and 6.5 mBq/L for water sample collected outside Callio Lab 2. All water samples showed disequilibrium between 234,238U isotopes (in underground water it is a common phenomenon).  All water samples showed 226Ra, 228Ra concentrations above the detection limits. The values of 15.1 ± 0.4 Bq/L to 116.6 ± 2.7 Bq/L for 226Ra and 6.1 ± 0.9 Bq/L to 36.0 ± 2.8 Bq/L for concentration of 228Ra. This may be due to that water to receive the radium isotopes from reservoir rocks or rocks are rich in radioactive content.

The presented results of natural background radiation measurements in this article are the part of the paper K. Polczek-Grelik et al., “Natural background radiation at Lab 2 of Callio Lab, Pyhäsalmi mine in Finland”, Nuclear Inst. and Methods in Physics Research, A 969 (2020) 164015. The similar measurements performed in other underground laboratory (Reiche Zeche mine- which also participate in BSUIN project) by our group, is presented in paper K. Polaczek-Grelik et al., “Characterization of the radiation environment at TU Bergakademie in Freiberg, Saxony, Germany”, Nuclear Inst. and Methods in Physics Research, A 946 (2019) 162652 and in our previous article on this BSUIN web-page (http://bsuin.eu/2019/03/21/study-of-natural-background-radiation-in-reiche-zeche-and-alte-elisabeth-shafts-freiberg-germany/).


References

[1] J. Suomela, Method for Determination of U-Isotopes in Water,” Swedish Radiation Institute, Stockholm, 1993.[2] C. W. Sill, Precipitation of actinides as uorides or hydroxides for highresolution alpha spectrometry, Nuclear and Chemical Waste Management, vol. 7, no. 3, pp. 201-215, 1987.

[3] Polish Norm PN-89/ZN-70072, Radium isotopes determination in water with LSC method. Wydawnictwa Normalizacyjne Alfa, 1989.

Exploring the ULs’ expectations for a CRM system

Choosing the right CRM system for an organization is challenging, which is why prior to the acquisition, precise CRM system requirements and specifications should be defined to support decision-making. One of the aims of the project was to provide CRM system requirements specification for the ULs. To explore the needs and limitations of the ULs, an online survey was used in this project.

OCTOBER 3, 2021

BIG DATA and global underground laboratories

In the EUL project, we develop better customer management and marketing processes for the partner laboratories and enhance the discovery and usability of the created online platform.

SEPTEMBER 9, 2021

Lessons Learnt: Baltic Sea Region Common Identity

There are quite a few ideas, thoughts, lessons that you get as working in a transnational project team. The Baltic Sea Underground Innovation Network (BSUIN) project gave us a great opportunity to learn more about the common identity and differences that we have around our Baltic Sea.

SEPTEMBER 9, 2021

EUL Innovation platform V1.1: implementing updates

One of the main aims of the EUL (Empowering Underground Laboratories Network Usage) project is to test and develop the EUL Innovation platform and to make the tool into a more user-friendly and more purposeful direction for the potential customers and the underground laboratory managers to use. To achieve it WP2 team with its leader Jose Garcia de Real organized interactive workshops to gather ideas on how to make it possible.

JUNE 6, 2021

Lessons Learnt: Actions towards the more sustainable Baltic Sea region

Baltic Sea Underground Innovation Network (BSUIN) project partners worked together to achieve the main targets of the project. At the same time we all gave our input to the Interreg Baltic Sea Region Programme 2014-2020 goal to support a more sustainable Baltic Sea region.

MAY 19, 2020

Open Day in Partner Institution – Institute of Physics, University of Silesia (Poland)

The BSUIN project was presented during the Open Day in Institute of Physics, University of Silesia (Poland).

MAY 14, 2020

Interview with Mia Pujol on intelligent lightning in underground conditions

The European Geoscience Union General Assembly 2020 was this year converted into EGU2020: Sharing Geoscience Online (#shareEGU20). The online program was held from 4th to 8th of May with inter- and transdisciplinary sessions, disciplinary sessions, Union symposia, and great debates. Short courses and other events took place in different formats.

OCTOBER 30, 2019

BSUIN project – great example of EU & Russia collaboration

Forum Strategov 2019 took place in St. Petersburg on 28.-29. of October 2019. In this event, separate part has been dedicated to the Baltic Sea region projects, seminar dialogue “The Baltic Sea Region: Russia-EU Transnational Cooperation Results and Perspectives” where Baltic Sea Underground Innovation Network (BSUIN) project was one of the examples of EU & Russia collaboration.

JUNE 17, 2019

Interview with Mia Pujol on intelligent lightning in underground conditions

Mia Pujol wrote her thesis on the topic of ”Lighting at the End of the Tunnel-The Design of Adaptive and Intelligent Lighting for an Underground Workspace”. She chose the research question with the determination to not fall into the trap of just formulating a very complex research question. ”When the topic of a thesis is as unique as mine is, there is often the tendency to over-complicate”, says Pujol. She thinks one of the most important things to achieve is to make the lighting accessible to a large number of people.

Let's talk!