<abstract xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"><p>It is a known fact that phosphate rocks have high levels of natural radioactivity due to the presence of large concentrations of radionuclides. This work aims to estimate radiation exposure and dose levels at Al-Jalamid site in northern Saudi Arabia. Al-Jalamid area is one of the largest reserves of phosphate worldwide. Ma’aden, a Saudi Government public company, owns the mine and is responsible for all mining activities. Phosphate and soil samples collected from Al-Jalamid phosphate mining area have been analysed for their uranium and thorium content by an α-spectrometer using radiochemical techniques. The quantity of radon gas was measured both in groundwater and in the atmosphere (indoor and outdoor) at the site using a portable radiation survey instrument. Groundwater samples collected from wells surrounding the mining area were analysed using a liquid scintillation counter in addition to an α-spectrometer. Finally, it is found that phosphate rock concentrate products cannot be utilized economically based on the standards set by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), since the average activity concentration does not reach the limit set by IAEA and hence are not commercially feasible.</p></abstract>

It is a known fact that phosphate rocks have high levels of natural radioactivity due to the presence of large concentrations of radionuclides. This work aims to estimate radiation exposure and dose levels at Al-Jalamid site in northern Saudi Arabia. Al-Jalamid area is one of the largest reserves of phosphate worldwide. Ma’aden, a Saudi Government public company, owns the mine and is responsible for all mining activities. Phosphate and soil samples collected from Al-Jalamid phosphate mining area have been analysed for their uranium and thorium content by an α-spectrometer using radiochemical techniques. The quantity of radon gas was measured both in groundwater and in the atmosphere (indoor and outdoor) at the site using a portable radiation survey instrument. Groundwater samples collected from wells surrounding the mining area were analysed using a liquid scintillation counter in addition to an α-spectrometer. Finally, it is found that phosphate rock concentrate products cannot be utilized economically based on the standards set by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), since the average activity concentration does not reach the limit set by IAEA and hence are not commercially feasible.

Radiological characterization of the phosphate deposit in Al-Jalamid phosphate mining area, Saudi Arabia

Center for Training & Radiation Prevention

Department of Nuclear Engineering, Faculty of Engineering

Nukleonika

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.

It is a known fact that phosphate rocks have high levels of natural radioactivity due to the presence of large concentrations of radionuclides. This work aims...

Radiological characterization of the phosphate deposit in Al-Jalamid phosphate mining area, Saudi Arabia

Article Category: Original Paper

Published Online: Mar 06, 2021

Page range: 35 - 44

Received: Jun 29, 2020

Accepted: Oct 02, 2020

DOI: https://doi.org/10.2478/nuka-2021-0005

Keywords
Al-Jalamid site, Uranium and thorium in phosphate rocks, Phosphate deposits, Natural radioactivity, Environmental radioactivity and pollution, Groundwater

© 2021 Abdulsalam M. Alhawsawi et al., published by Sciendo

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.

Radiological characterization of the phosphate deposit in Al-Jalamid phosphate mining area, Saudi Arabia

Article Category: Original Paper

Published Online: Mar 06, 2021

Page range: 35 - 44

Received: Jun 29, 2020

Accepted: Oct 02, 2020

DOI: https://doi.org/10.2478/nuka-2021-0005

KeywordsAl-Jalamid site, Uranium and thorium in phosphate rocks, Phosphate deposits, Natural radioactivity, Environmental radioactivity and pollution, Groundwater

© 2021 Abdulsalam M. Alhawsawi et al., published by Sciendo

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.

Keywords
Al-Jalamid site, Uranium and thorium in phosphate rocks, Phosphate deposits, Natural radioactivity, Environmental radioactivity and pollution, Groundwater