DOCUME,NT

DOES NOT

P
Reviewed

~Y~
‘&5szdz

CONTAIN

ECI

,,!
./

Date d+%+

409867
DETERMINATION
IN

OF TRANSUFUiNIC
SURFACE
SOIL AT

CONCENTRATIONS
ENEWETAK

The concentrations of transuranic radionuclides (Pluto-.240
and Americi~m-241)
in SUrfaCe
nium-238, -2391
soils are determined using a sequence of procedures
involving instrumental surveys, radiochemical analyses
of soil samples, and statistical analysis of the data
to estimate the average col~centrations of transuranics
in the soil.
lm in-situ radiometric survey of the area under investigation is performed using a unique, self-propelled
instrument system called an “IMP” (named for the small
tracked vehicle that carries the system) . Gamma radiation
from the ground is detected by a planar intrinsic
germanium detector suspended from the end of a retractable
Gamma
spectra frcm the detector are
boom on the Ii@.
From
the 60 keV gamma~ the average
analyzed and recorded.
concentration of Arr-241 in the top 3 cm of soil within the
detector’s field of view (a 21-meter diameter circle) is
determined.
Soil samples are taken and radiochemically analyzed in the
The concentrations of
Enewetak Radiation Laboratory.
Conversion factors
Plutonium and Ar.ericium are determined.
are derived from these data which allow estimates of the
total transuranic concentrations in soil to be calculated
from the Am-241 measurements of the

o

Select target paragraph3