Natural radioactivity of a copper-zinc mine with a production facility in Türkiye and radiological consequences of the usage of tailing as a concrete additive

Abstract

The dose rates of an underground copper-zinc mine and the radioactivities of collected samples were measured using a surveymeter and a gamma-ray spectrometer. There was no significant difference found between mine dose rates and background radiation in the region. The average activity concentrations of 226Ra, 232Th, and 40K in tailing samples were found to be 27%, 83%, and 71% higher than in ores, respectively. It was determined that a miner who worked in the mine for a year and was exposed to the natural radiation of the mine could be exposed to a radiation dose of less than 1 mSv. The annual radiation dose of a person living in a standard concrete room with a certain amount of tailing added to the concrete content was calculated to be 202.2 μSvy-1. Using tailings as concrete additives can help reduce waste released into the environment and make better use of natural resources.