Determination of Possible Uranium Migration and The Radioactive Characteristics of Formations in The Sarıçiçek and Sarıhan Granodiorites and Surroundings

Abstract

In the study, in situ gamma-ray measurements were applied on Sarıhan and Sarıçiçek granodiorites and the formations surrounding these units. The concentrations of radionuclide (eU(ppm), eTh(ppm), K(%)) and dose rate values were measured in total at 532 points (265 and 267 measurements were taken in Gümüşhane and Bayburt, respectively.) in both areas with a duration of 5 minutes at each measurement point. By using the obtained concentration data, the radioelement ratios (eU/eTh, eU/K, and eTh/K) give information about the origins of the rocks belonging to the study areas, the geochemical indicators (Ume, F parameter, and eU-(eTh/3,5) rate ) showing the uranium mobility and the radioelement concentrations were calculated and mapped. While the average K, eU, and eTh concentrations for Sarıçiçek granodiorite were calculated as 2.98%, 3.15 ppm, and 12.45 ppm, Sarıhan granodiorite was 1.83%, 2.73 ppm, and 13.6 ppm, respectively. The higher radioactivity values were obtained than the surrounding formations consisting of basaltic, sedimentary, and ultramafic rock combinations on the granodiorite masses. In the classification made according to radioelement ratios, it is concluded that the rocks in the study areas are formed as a mixture of the upper mantle and crustal materials. In both study areas, there is uranium transport from the granodioritic masses to the surrounding rocks, and accordingly, the rocks in the surrounding formation are enriched in uranium. As a result, radioactivity levels, rock formation origins, and uranium transport of both granodioritic masses and rocks in the surrounding formations were determined by evaluating together with the radioelement concentration values and ratios and migration parameters, and the studied areas were characterized by associating them with geology in the light of radioactive data.