A study on the distribution pattern of radioactivity in the heavy minerals of coastal sands of Kanyakumari District
Keywords:
Radio Activity, Heavy Minerals, Coastal Sands, α-activity, β- activityAbstract
The study of gross α and β activities of samples collected from five different locations
between Colachel and Chinnavilai, spanning across a distance of 6 km indicate wide variation
in their activity. Colachel beach sands recorded maximum activity, the values are lowest in the
samples collected along the Chinnavilai beach. An examination of the activities of different
size fractions of the beach sands has established the presence of the maximum quantities of
fine samples of heavy minerals in the finest fraction. The highest α-activity of sand samples is
recorded in Colachel beach and the lowest α-activity is recorded in Chinnaviali. The highest β-
activity of soil samples are observed in Colachel station and the lowest β-activity of soil are
samples observed in Chinnavilai station.