Authors: Lalmuanawma Chhangte, Remlalsiama, Lalnunpuia
Abstract: Ground level Gamma Radiation and Radon gas concentration at different depth beneath the ground surface of oil exploration areas in Mizoram, India is studied and correlation graph is drawn. The oil exploration areas of Meidum(MD) and Zanlawn(ZL) in Kolasib district, are studied. The main instrument utilized for the study was RnDuo machine devised to survey Radon 222 (222Rn) connected to soil probe of 1mtr long to be baptized at different depth. Background gamma radiation survey at ground level is conducted with Russian base Gamma Survey Meter (PM 1405). The background gamma radiation at ground level varies from 177 nSv/hr at MD-3 to 202 nSv/h at MD-1 location with an average of 186.5 nSv/h. An in-situ measurement of soil gas was carried out at three different spots at four different depths each namely 10cm, 30cm, 50cm and 70cm. The radon gas concentration beneath the soil, within the study area ranges from 0.10 kBq/m3 at MD-3 to 1.31 kBq/m3 at MD-1 location. A correlation graph between ground level gamma radiation and the radon concentration in soil at different dept shows that the correlation coefficient is highest at 10cm with R2=0.466 and lowest at 70cm with R2=0.175. The Radon gas concentration obtained in these areas are below the worldwide average of 35-40 kBq/m3 .(UNSCEAR 2000).
DOI: http://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.20948672
