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En i onmen al Ea h Sciences (2021) 80:650
h ps://doi.o g/10.1007/s12665-021-09944-5
ORIGINAL ARTICLE
Na u al adioac i i y o  ocks om hehis o ic Je oným Mine
in heCzech Republic
Da iuszMalczewski1 · Ma iaDziu owicz1· ZdenekKalab2,3· Ma ke aRösne o á3
Recei ed: 13 Ma ch 2021 / Accep ed: 3 Sep embe 2021 / Published online: 18 Sep embe 2021
© The Au ho (s) 2021
Abs ac
This s udy epo s he na u al adioac i i y o cha ac e is ic ocks ound in he his o ic Je oným Mine o he Czech Republic
as measu ed unde he labo a o y condi ions. The ocks analyzed included g ani es and schis s wea he ed o a ying deg ees
and collec ed om di e en le els o he unde g ound wo kings o he Je oným Mine. The mine i sel has been subjec o
me al ex ac ion (mainly in and ungs en) since he six een h cen u y and has ecen ly been de eloped as a cul u al and sci-
en i ic a ac ion open o he public. Ac i i y concen a ions o 40K, 232Th and 238U we e measu ed om nine ock samples
using gamma- ay spec ome y. The ac i i y concen a ions o 40K a ied om 595Bq kg−1 o 1244Bq kg−1, while 232Th
a ied om 25Bq kg−1 o 55Bq kg−1. The ac i i ies associa ed wi h 238U anged om 46Bq kg−1 o 386Bq kg−1. The
measu ed ac i i ies we e used o es ima e wo adia ion haza d indices ypically applied o building ma e ials, he ac i i y
concen a ion index I and he ex e nal haza d index Hex. Mean espec i e alues o 1.02 and 0.77 o I and Hex indica e ha
he ocks ound in he Je oným Mine mee adiological sa e y s anda ds o building ma e ials and do no pose a isk o
po en ial ou is s and s a .
Keywo ds Je oným Mine· Na u al adioac i i y· G ani es and schis s· Gamma- ay spec ome y
In oduc ion
The his o ic Je oným Mine is loca ed nea he o me
Čis á municipali y (also known as Lau e bach S ad ) in he
Sokolo Dis ic o he Czech Republic (Fig.1). The locali y
is a pa o a p o ec ed landscape, he Sla ko sky Les Moun-
ains, which bo de he Bohemian Massi . The Bohemian
Massi comp ises pa o he Va iscan bel o Cen al Eu ope
and hos s a numbe o u anium deposi s ound in bo h he
Czech Republic and eas e n Ge many. To al his o ical u a-
nium p oduc ion eached app oxima ely 350,000 mak-
ing he Bohemian Massi he mos impo an u anium o e
dis ic in Eu ope (Kříbek e al. 2009). The Je oným Mine
ep esen s a me alli e ous deposi ha yielded in, ungs en,
sil e , gold, bismu h and u anium (Be an and Sejko a 2006).
Mine wo kings da e back o he i s hal o he six een h
cen u y and ex ac ion occu ed wi h in e up ions un il
he ea ly wen ie h cen u y. The nea by own o Čis á was
impac ed by se e al e en s a e Wo ld Wa II and hen la e
comple ely des oyed du ing a mili a y aining ope a ion
(Raška and Ki chne 2011). The long e m subsu ace min-
ing ac i i ies and o he human impac s ha e led o he desig-
na ion o he Je oným Mine as a Na ional He i age Si e open
o he public as pa o he g ea e Czech Ba a ian Jeopa d.
Because Wo ld Wa II and pos -wa e en s des oyed
a chi al documen s and w i en eco ds conce ning he
mine’s his o y, la ge a eas o he Je oným Mine ha e no
been e alua ed o sa e y o access. The cessa ion o mining
ac i i ies also led o looding o some o he wo kings. The
mining museum, opened in he wen y- i s cen u y, o e s
* Da iusz Malczewski
da iusz.malczew[email p o ec ed]
Ma ia Dziu owicz
[email p o ec ed]
Zdenek Kalab
[email p o ec ed]
Ma ke a Rösne o á
ma k[email p o ec ed]
1 Ins i u e o Ea h Sciences, Uni e si y o Silesia, Będzińska
60, 41-200Sosnowiec, Poland
2 Facul y o Ci il Enginee ing, VSB - Technical Uni e si y
o Os a a, S uden ska 1768, 70800Os a a, Po uba,
CzechRepublic
3 Ins i u e o Geonics, Czech Academy o Sciences, S uden ska
1768, 70800Os a a, Po uba, CzechRepublic
En i onmen al Ea h Sciences (2021) 80:650
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access o mine wo kings and chambe s which ea u e unique,
his o ical ools and in as uc u e (Žů ek and Kořínek 2001;
Kaláb e al. 2006). Basic geological and geophysical analysis
ha e been used o e alua e he sa e y o he si e o isi o s
and museum wo ke s. These s udies ha e documen ed he
s uc u al condi ion and wea he ing o he ock massi in
o de o de e mine he s abili y o he mine (Lednická and
Kaláb 2012, 2016). The mine i sel ex ends o ela i ely
shallow dep hs o only abou 30–50m below he su ace. In
p epa a ion o opening o he si e o he public, hyd ological
moni o ing was also conduc ed o de e mine ou lows, in e -
connec ions and he esponse o mine wa e le els o in luen
lows om in ensi e p ecipi a ion (Kaláb e al. 2010a, b).
Hyd ologic moni o ing also add essed wa e s accumula ed
in closed, und ained a eas o he mine.
The p esen s udy epo s labo a o y gamma- ay spec-
ome y measu emen s o na u al adioac i i y le els om
cha ac e is ic ocks samples ound in he mine. The 40K,
232Th and 238U ac i i y concen a ions o ep esen a i e
g ani es and schis s we e compa ed o alues ob ained o
simila ocks ypes as epo ed in he li e a u e. Ac i i y
concen a ions we e also used o es ima e s anda d indices
o assessing adiological sa e y o building ma e ials and
su oundings.
Geological se ing andsample loca ions
Geologically, he Je oným Mine accesses me amo phosed
ocks belonging o he Sla ko man le c ys alline complex
and Va iscan g ani es o he O e Moun ains plu on. The a ea
sampled occu ed nea he con ac o majo geological uni s,
he O e Moun ain and Tepla-Ba andium megablock which
o med a a ound 265Ma. The immedia e su oundings as
well as he Je oným Mine i sel include al e ed acidic g an-
i es hos ing p ominen Va iscan in- ungs en mine aliza ion.
In ensi e wea he ing and he age o he wo kings ha e des a-
bilized some a eas o he mine.
The Je oným Mine is a sha mine consis ing o sub-
su ace galle ies, sha s and chambe s sp ead ac oss a
leas h ee ho izon al le els anging in dep h om 10 o
50m below he su ace. Se e al ecen pape s ha e e alu-
a ed o s uc u al s abili y o he mine (F oňka e al. 2013;
Lednická and Kaláb 2013; Kaláb andLednická2016;
Fig. 1 The loca ion o he Je oným Mine on a map o he Czech Republic wi h ecen pho os o i s access sha s and su oundings () pho os: M.
Rösne o á and Z. Kalab
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Lyubushin e al. 2014). The lowes le el is pe manen ly
looded making i s scope is unknown. Some pa s o he
mine ha e been e-opened o ecen ly de eloped. In ensi e
wea he ing and he age o he wo kings ha e des abilized
o he a eas o he mine. Ce ain locali ies consis o is-
su ed and wea he ed suppo ing pilla s o oo laye s in
chambe s. Figu e2 shows a ske ch o he Je oným Mine
wi h sampling loca ions while Fig.3 shows pho os o ypi-
cal sampling si es wi hin he mine.
Fig. 2 Diag am o he Je oným
Mine wi h sampling loca ions
ma ked. Table1 lis s sample
desc ip ions
Fig. 3 Pho os o ypical sam-
pling si es in he Je oným Mine
(pho os: M. Rösne o á). A JK3
g ani e collec ion si e om he
pilla in a la ge chambe ; B
JK5 g ani e collec ion si e om
he seasonally looded zone; C
JK5K schis collec ion si e om
loose ock ma e ial; D JCH3
schis collec ion si e om a
galle y mined ou du ing Wo ld
Wa II.
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Ma e ials andme hods
G ani e and schis samples om he Je oným Mine we e
d ied, c ushed and placed in Ma inelli-450 beake s. Samples
we e analyzed a ew mon hs a e collec ion using a GX3020
HPGe de ec o in a lead and coppe shield (60mm) wi h
a mul ichannel InSpec o 2000 DSP bu e . The GX3020
HPGe sys em uses a coaxial HPGe Ex ended Range de ec-
o wi h 32% ela i e e iciency, a de ec o bias ol age o
3000V and ene gy esolu ions o 0.86keV a 122keV and
1.76keV a 1332keV. The LabSOCS (Labo a o y Sou ce-
less Calib a ion So wa e) and Genie 2000 .4 so wa e
packages pe o med e iciency calib a ion and es ima ed
adionuclides and hei ac i i ies. The spec ome e ene gy
was calib a ed using homogeneously dispe sed 241Am,
109Cd, 139Ce, 57Co, 60Co, 137Cs, 113Sn, 85S , 88Y and 203Hg
adioiso opes in a silicone esin [ce i ica e sou ce ype
Ma inelli Beake S anda d Sou ce (MBSS) supplied by he
Czech Me ological Ins i u e]. Ac i i ies o he a ge adio-
nuclides we e calcula ed om he ollowing gamma an-
si ions (ene gy in keV): 40K (1460.8), 208Tl (277.4, 583.1,
860.6 and 2614.5), 212Pb (238.6 and 300.0), 214Pb (241.9,
295.2 and 351.9), 214Bi (609.3, 768.3, 1120.3 and 1764.5)
and 228Ac (338.3, 911.6, 964.6 and 969.1). A single meas-
u emen las ed 24h. Measu emen s we e pe o med a he
Labo a o y o Na u al Radioac i i y (Ins i u e o Ea h Sci-
ences, Uni e si y o Silesia). Figu e4 shows ypical gamma-
ay spec a o g ani e and schis samples JK3 and JCH3.
Resul s anddiscussion
Table1 lis s measu ed 40K, 208Tl, 212Pb, 228Ac, 214Pb, 214Bi,
and 226Ra ac i i y concen a ions o he nine Je oným Mine
ock samples.
40K
As seen in Fig.5 and Table1, sample K9 (wea he ed g an-
i e) ga e he lowes obse ed 40K ac i i y concen a ion o
595Bq kg−1. The g ani e K2 ga e he maximum 40K ac i i y
obse ed o 1244Bq kg−1. Wea he ed g ani e samples JK3
and K42 con aining la ge, isible amoun s o po assium eld-
spa ga e he nex highes 40K alues o 1141Bq kg−1 and
1136Bq kg−1 ( espec i ely). Two schis samples JK5K and
JCH3 ga e simila 40K ac i i y concen a ions o 1101 and
912Bq kg−1, espec i ely. Th ee o he samples o wea he ed
g ani e ga e ela i ely low 40K ac i i y alues anging om
668 o 692Bq kg−1. These ock samples showed e y li le
in he way o da ke mine al con en . As shown in Fig.5, he
a e age 40K ac i i y alue o 907Bq kg−1 sligh ly exceeds
he a e age 40K ac i i y concen a ion o 850Bq kg−1 es i-
ma ed o he con inen al c us (Eisenbud and Gessel 1997).
This indica es ha he s udy a ea is cha ac e ized by a no -
mal 40K adia ion le els.
G ani es
Figu e6 shows he 40K ac i i y concen a ions o g ani e
samples (excluding samples JK5K and JCH3), which ga e
an a i hme ic mean alue o 878Bq kg−1. As seen in Fig.6,
his alue alls below he a e age alue o 1200Bq kg−1
epo ed o ypical g ani es (Eisenbud and Gessel 1997; Van
Schmus 1995) and below alues o 1100Bq kg−1 measu ed
o Čis á ype g ani es ound in he s udy a ea (K ešl and
Vaňko á, 1978).
Albi ized and g eisenized g ani es K9, JK5 and K1 ga e
he lowes 40K alues obse ed om sampling si es loca ed
in he eas e n pa o he Je oným Mine. The low alues
may e lec he albi iza ion p ocess in which he g ani es
expe ienced hyd a ion. A majo inc ease in Na and loss o
K could ha e esul ed in conside ably lowe 40K ac i i y
Fig. 4 Gamma- ay spec a om g ani e sample (JK3) and schis sam-
ple (JCH3). Cha ac e is ic gamma- ay emi e s a e ma ked abo e he
co esponding peaks
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alues o hese g ani e samples. The highes 40K ac i i y o
1244Bq kg−1 (K2) sligh ly exceeded he a e age alue o
ypical g ani es. This sample along wi h g ani es JK3 and
K42 occu ed in he wes e n pa o he mine.
Wi hin measu emen unce ain y, he a e age 40K ac i i y
o 878Bq kg−1 o g ani e samples s ongly esembled he
887Bq kg−1 a e age alue de e mined om insi u meas-
u emen s o Ize a Block g ani es (Malczewski e al. 2004,
2005). Loca ed 250km away in SW Poland, he Ize a Block
exhibi s simila geological s uc u e o ha o he Sla ko sky
Les Moun ains. The block also hos s me alli e ous deposi s
o in, cobal , coppe and bismu h. Labo a o y measu emen s
o a simila wea he ed g ani e om he Sławniowice qua y
in he Opa a Moun ains (Poland) ga e signi ican ly highe
40K ac i i y alues o 1560Bq kg−1 (Dżaluk e al. 2018).
Table 1 Ac i i y concen a ions o p imo dial adionuclides as measu ed in ock samples unde labo a o y condi ions
a B anching a io 36%
b Based on 214Pb and 214Bi ac i i ies
Sample Ac i i y (Bq kg−1)
non-se ies 232Th se ies 238U se ies
40K 208Tla 212Pb 228Ac 214Pb 214Bi 226Rab
K9
Wea he ed g ani e wi h a qua z ein
595 ± 25 7.4 ± 0.3 25.6 ± 1.5 25.2 ± 0.8 159 ± 7 147 ± 3 153 ± 8
JK5
Wea he ed g ani e om he seasonally looded zone
668 ± 28 9.2 ± 0.3 30.1 ± 2.4 33.2 ± 0.9 408 ± 17 363 ± 6 386 ± 18
K1
Wea he ed g ani e
692 ± 29 8.2 ± 0.3 27.3 ± 2.2 26.9 ± 0.8 148 ± 6 131 ± 3 140 ± 7
JK5K
schis om he seasonally looded zone wi h in ill ma e ials
1101 ± 46 16.2 ± 0.4 53.6 ± 4.3 51.5 ± 1.2 203 ± 9 188 ± 4 196 ± 10
K42
Hea ily wea he ed g ani e
1136 ± 92 10.5 ± 0.6 28.4 ± 3.2 26.6 ± 1.2 48 ± 4.1 44.7 ± 1.6 46.4 ± 4.4
K2
G ani e
1244 ± 52 8.8 ± 0.3 30.1 ± 1.7 27.6 ± 0.8 150 ± 1 133 ± 2 142 ± 2
JK3
Wea he ed g ani e
1141 ± 47 8.2 ± 0.3 27.4 ± 2.2 28.3 ± 0.8 47.5 ± 2 43.9 ± 1.1 45.7 ± 2
CH41
Wea he ed g ani e
673 ± 28 8 ± 0.3 28.0 ± 1.6 27.4 ± 0.8 224 ± 10 206 ± 4 215 ± 11
JCH3
schis om he con ac zone wi h g ani e
912 ± 38 17.1 ± 0.5 56.3 ± 4.5 55.1 ± 1.3 175 ± 7 159 ± 3 167 ± 8
Fig. 5 Measu ed 40K ac i i y alues. Thick solid line: a e age 40K
alue measu ed om all samples. Thin solid line: a e age 40K alue
epo ed o he con inen al c us
Fig. 6 Measu ed 40K ac i i ies om g ani e samples (excluding schis
samples JK5K and JCH3). Thick solid line: a e age 40K ac i i y
measu ed om g ani e samples. Thin solid line: a e age 40K ac i i y
epo ed o ypical g ani es

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Papadopoulos e al. (2016) epo ed 40K ac i i y alues ang-
ing om 148Bq kg−1 o 2518Bq kg−1 wi h a mean alue o
1097Bq kg−1 o 70 samples o g ani es collec ed om plu-
ons in wes e n Ana olia (Tu key). Comme cial g ani e ock
used as building ma e ials in es iga ed by Pa lidou e al.
(2006; 16 samples om G eece) and Tzo zis e al. (2003;
28 samples om Cyp us) ga e mean 40K ac i i y alues o
1104Bq kg−1 and 1215Bq kg−1, espec i ely. Comme cial
g ani e samples om B azil ga e mean 40K ac i i y alues
anging om 190 o 2029Bq kg−1 and an a i hme ic mean o
1320Bq kg−1 (Anjos e al. 2011). One o he highes mean
alues epo ed o g ani e in he li e a u e came om a ock
in he Wadi Ka im a ea o Egyp , which ga e a 40K ac i i y
alue o 4849Bq kg−1. Samples collec ed in he Um Taghi
egion o Egyp (El-A abi 2007) and om India, ga e he
maximum obse ed alues o 10,230 and 10,990Bq kg−1,
espec i ely.
Schis s
The wo schis samples, JK5K and JCH3, ga e an a e -
age 40K ac i i y alue o 1007 Bq kg−1. This alue
sligh ly exceeds ha measu ed om Ize a Block schis s
(960Bq kg−1) using insi u me hods (Malczewski e al. 2004
and 2005). I also exceeds alues o 822Bq kg−1 gi en o
he USGS mica schis s anda d SDC-1.
232Th se ies (228Ac, 212Pb, and208Tl)
Table1 shows ha ock samples ha e achie ed adioac-
i e equilib ium among 232Th se ies daugh e p oduc s.
Since 228Ac ep esen s he second adionuclide in he ho-
ium decay se ies, 232Th ac i i y is assumed o equal 228Ac
ac i i y. Figu e7 shows ha sample K9 (wea he ed g ani e)
ga e he lowes 232Th ac i i y o 25Bq kg−1, whe eas sample
JCH3 (schis ) ga e he highes 232Th ac i i y alue obse ed
o 55Bq kg−1. All samples ga e an a e age 232Th ac i i y
alue o 33Bq kg−1, which ell below he con inen al c us
o 44Bq kg−1. This indica es ela i ely low and sa e le els
o backg ound adia ion wi hin he Je oným Mine.
G ani es
The se en g ani e samples om he Je oným Mine ga e
232Th ac i i y alues ha ell wi hin a na ow 25Bq kg−1
(K9) o 33Bq kg−1 (JK5) ange. Figu e8 shows ha he
28Bq kg−1 a i hme ic mean o hese g ani es alls signi i-
can ly below a e age 232Th ac i i y alues o he 70Bq kg−1
alue epo ed o ypical g ani es (Eisenbud and Gessel
1997). None o he 232Th ac i i ies measu ed in his s udy
exceeded his alue. Howe e , he a e age 232Th ac i i y
exceeded mean alues o 18Bq kg−1 epo ed o Ĉis á ype
g ani es (K ešl and Vaňko á, 1978). Simila o 40K alues,
he a e age 232Th ac i i y o he Je oným Mine g ani es
esembled a e age alues wi hin unce ain ies o Ize a
Block g ani es (29Bq kg−1) as measu ed by insi u me hods
(Malczewski e al. 2005). G ani es om he eas e nmos pa
o he Sude es (Opa a Moun ains) ga e 232Th alues anging
om 7 (wea he ed g ani e) o 54Bq kg−1 (g ani e) (Dżaluk
e al. 2018). Papadopoulos e al. (2016) epo ed 232Th
ac i i ies anging om 0.14 o 241Bq kg−1 wi h a mean
alue o 90Bq kg−1. These alues signi ican ly exceeded
a e age 232Th alues epo ed he e o mine samples. Se en
g ani e samples ound in sou heas e n Eskisehi (Kaymaz,
Tu key) ga e highe alues anging om 165 o 352Bq kg−1
Fig. 7 Measu ed 232Th ac i i y alues. Thick solid line: a e age 232Th
alue om all samples. Thin solid line: a e age 232Th alue epo ed
o he con inen al c us
Fig. 8 Measu ed 232Th ac i i ies om g ani e samples (exclud-
ing schis samples JK5K and JCH3). Thick solid line: a e age 232Th
ac i i y om g ani e samples. Thin solid line: a e age 232Th ac i i y
epo ed o ypical g ani es
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(a e age o 248Bq kg−1; Ö gün e al. 2005). The highes
232Th ac i i y alue epo ed (3834Bq kg−1) de i ed om
anomalous g ani e samples om he Um Taghi egion o
Egyp (El-A abi 2007).
The 232Th ac i i ies measu ed om Je oným Mine g an-
i es ell below ac i i ies measu ed om g ani es used as
building ma e ials and qua ied om a ious global locali-
ies. B azilian, Indian and Swedish comme cial g ani es
ga e espec i e a e age 232Th ac i i y alues o 106, 172 and
110Bq kg−1 (Anjos e al. 2011; Chen and Lin 1996). Typical
comme cial g ani es om G eece and Sa dinia ga e espec-
i e 232Th ac i i y alues o 77 and 66Bq kg−1 (Papadopou-
los e al. 2012; Den oni e al. 2020). Comme cial g ani es
om Japan ga e lowe 232Th ac i i y alues o 40Bq kg−1
(Hassan e al. 2010).
Schis s
Two schis s (samples JK5K and JCH3) ga e espec i e
232Th ac i i y alues o 51 and 55Bq kg−1 and an a e age
alue o 53Bq kg−1. These alues exceed alues measu ed
om g ani es by as much as a ac o o wo. The alues
esemble hose measu ed insi u om Ize a Block schis s (43
and 48Bq kg−1) (Malczewski e al. 2005). The 53Bq kg−1
a e age o 232Th ac i i y alues esembles he 232Th ac i -
i y epo ed o he USGS mica schis s anda d SDC-1
(46Bq kg−1).
238U se ies (214Pb, 214Bi and226Ra)
Ac i i y concen a ions o 238U we e es ima ed assuming
adioac i e equilib ium wi hin he 238U → 226Ra → 222R
n → 214Pb → 214Bi decay chain. We es ima ed 238U ac i i-
ies om 226Ra ac i i y de e mined om 214Pb and 214Bi
ac i i ies.
Table1 and Fig.9 show ha wo wea he ed g ani es
(JK3 and K42) ga e he minimum 238U ac i i y alue o
46Bq kg−1. The sample JK5 ga e he maximum obse ed
238U ac i i y o 386Bq kg−1. All samples ga e an a e age
238U ac i i y alue o 166Bq kg−1 which exceeds he con i-
nen al c us o 36Bq kg−1 (Eisenbud and Gessel 1997). The
238U adia ion backg ound hus appea s ele a ed ela i e o
ypical backg ound.
G ani e
Figu e10 shows g ani e sample 238U ac i i y concen a ions
ha gi e an a e age alue o 161Bq kg−1. This a e age
exceeds a e age alues o ypical g ani es (40Bq kg−1)
(Eisenbud and Gessel 1997) by a ac o o ou bu alls
sligh ly below he a e age alue o Ĉis á ype g ani es o
214Bq kg−1 (K ešl and Vaňko á, 1978). The nea by and
geologically simila Ize a Block hos s a leucog ani e ha
ga e he highes obse ed 238U ac i i y alue o 120Bq kg−1
(measu ed insi u) (Malczewski e al. 2005).
Samples JK3 and K42 ga e he lowes obse ed 238U
ac i i y alue o 46Bq kg−1, which esembled ha meas-
u ed om ypical g ani es. The sample JK5 ga e he highes
obse ed 238U ac i i y alue o 386Bq kg−1. The di e ence
be ween he highes and lowes alues was 340Bq kg−1.
Sample JK5 was a wea he ed g ani e collec ed om a
chambe in he cen al pa o he mine subjec o seasonal
looding (Figs.2 and 3). Fou o he g ani e samples exhib-
i ed ela i ely high 238U ac i i ies o 215Bq kg−1 o CH41,
153Bq kg−1 o K9, 150Bq kg−1 o K2 and 140Bq kg−1
Fig. 9 Measu ed 238U ac i i y alues. Thick solid line: a e age 238U
alue om all samples. Thin solid line: a e age 238U alue epo ed
o he con inen al c us
Fig. 10 Measu ed 238U ac i i ies om g ani e samples (exclud-
ing schis samples JK5K and JCH3). Thick solid line: a e age 238U
ac i i y om g ani e samples. Thin solid line: a e age 238U ac i i y
epo ed o ypical g ani es
En i onmen al Ea h Sciences (2021) 80:650
1 3
650 Page 8 o 11
o K1. Figu es2 and 10 show ha he lowes 238U ac i i ies
obse ed come om samples collec ed om he no he n
pa o he Je oným Mine.
Table2 lis s 238U ac i i ies o g ani es used as building
ma e ials om di e en global locali ies. Samples om Sa -
dinia (I aly) ga e he lowes mean alue o 32.
Bq kg−1 (Den oni e al. 2020). G ani es om Egyp and
India ga e he highes mean alues o 118 and 119Bq kg−1
(Ha b e al. 2012; Chen and Lin 1996). Tzo zis e al. (2003)
epo ed an a e age alue o 77Bq kg−1 and 238U concen a-
ions o up o 588Bq kg−1 o ocks om Cyp us. Sakoda
e al. (2008) analyzed g ani e samples om Misasa (Japan)
and Badgas ein (Aus ia), which bo h hos well-known adon
he apy spas. Those samples ga e ex emely high 226Ra (238U)
ac i i y concen a ions o 895Bq kg−1 o he Misasa g ani e
and 7064Bq kg−1 o he Badgas ein g ani e. Fo compa ison,
he JK5 g ani e om he Je oným Mine ga e a 238U ac i i y
concen a ion o 386Bq kg−1. G ani es om he Um Taghi
egion (eas e n dese , Egyp ) ga e he highes 238U ac i i y
concen a ion alue epo ed in he li e a u e o 9087Bq kg−1
(El-A abi 2007).
Schis s
Schis samples om he Je oným Mine ga e 238U ac i i ies o
167Bq and 196Bq kg−1 wi h an a e age alue o 181Bq kg−1,
which sligh ly exceeds ha measu ed om he g ani e samples.
This alue also g ea ly exceeded he 36Bq kg−1 alue meas-
u ed om he Cla ke (Eisenbud and Gessel 1997) (Fig.9), he
38Bq kg−1 alue measu ed om USGS s anda d SDC-1 and
he 43Bq kg−1 alue measu ed insi u o Ize a Block schis s
(Malczewski e al. 2004, 2005).
Radiological haza d assessmen
Basic indices used o e alua e building ma e ials p o ided es i-
ma es and dose c i e ia o he adiological haza ds ela ed
o mine ou s and wo king condi ions. The Eu opean Union
s anda d index I, as de ined in Council Di ec i e 59 (2013),
ep esen s he sum o h ee iso opic ac ions exp essed as:
whe e ARa, ATh and AK ep esen 226Ra, 232Th and 40K (Bq
kg−1) ac i i ies in su oundings o building ma e ial (EC RP
112 1999; Nucce elli e al. 2012). Bulk ma e ial amoun s
gi e indoo dose a e which should no exceed a alue o
1mS y−1 (uni y). Table3 and Fig.11 show calcula ed I
alues along wi h indi idual 226Ra, 232Th and 40K con ibu-
ions o ock samples analyzed in his s udy.
The ex e nal haza d index Hex also ep esen s a commonly
used index o e alua ing adiological isk o building ma e i-
als. I is calcula ed as ollows:
whe e ARa, ATh and AK ep esen 226Ra, 232Th and 40K (Bq
kg−1) ac i i ies in he building ma e ial o su oundings
I
=
A
Ra
300
Bqkg
−1+
A
Th
200
Bqkg
−1+
A
K
3000
Bqkg
−1
H
ex =
A
Ra
370
Bqkg
−1+
A
Th
259
Bqkg
−1+
A
K
4810
Bqkg
−1
Table 2 Examples o 226Ra (238U) ac i i ies measu ed om comme -
cial g ani es used in cons uc ion om di e en global locali ies
a A e age
b Range
Re e ence Locali y 226Ra (238U)
Chen and Lin 1996 India 119a
68–160b
Chen and Lin 1996 Sweden 107
102–111
Tzo zis e al. 2003 Cyp us 77
1–588
Anjos e al. 2011 B azil 45
5–160
Ha b e al. 2012 Egyp 118
55–212
Papadopoulos e al. 2012 G eece 84
27–229
Den oni e al. 2020 Sa dinia, I aly 36
18–80
Table 3 Calcula ed I and Hex
index alues wi h con ibu ions
om 40K, 232Th and 226Ra
componen s as measu ed om
Je oným Mine samples
Sample IKITh IRa I HKHTh HRa Hex
K9 0.20 0.13 0.51 0.83 0.12 0.10 0.41 0.63
JK5 0.22 0.17 1.29 1.68 0.14 0.13 1.04 1.31
K1 0.23 0.13 0.47 0.83 0.14 0.10 0.38 0.63
JK5K 0.37 0.26 0.65 1.28 0.23 0.20 0.53 0.96
K42 0.38 0.13 0.15 0.67 0.24 0.10 0.13 0.46
K2 0.41 0.14 0.47 1.03 0.26 0.11 0.38 0.75
JK3 0.38 0.14 0.15 0.67 0.24 0.11 0.12 0.47
CH41 0.22 0.14 0.72 1.08 0.14 0.10 0.58 0.83
JCH3 0.30 0.28 0.56 1.14 0.19 0.21 0.45 0.85
En i onmen al Ea h Sciences (2021) 80:650
1 3
Page 9 o 11 650
as be o e. An Hex index equal o uni y co esponds o an
ex e nal gamma dose o 1.5mS y−1 om a ma e ial. The
Hex u ilizes p inciples o adium equi alen ac i i y (Raeq).
The es ima e assumes equi alen gamma- ay dose a e p o-
duced by 370Bq kg−1 o 226Ra, 259Bq kg−1 o 232Th and
4810Bq kg−1 o 40K (Be e ka and Ma hew 1985; Monged
e al. 2020). Table3 and Fig.12 lis Hex es ima es o he
ock samples analyzed he e.
As seen in Table3 and Fig.11, only he JK5 g ani e
sample exceeded c i ical alues o 1 o index I (I = 1.68).
Samples JK5K, JCH3, CH41 and K2 sligh ly exceeded he
c i ical alue and all samples ga e an a e age I o 1.02. This
a e age I alue ell o 0.94 when JK5 was excluded om
calcula ion. The c i ical I = 1 h eshold co esponding o
he dose o 1mS de i es om an annual exposu e ime
o 7000h. Fo he se en samples analyzed, 226Ra made he
la ges con ibu ion o he I es ima e. Fo he wo emaining
samples o K42 and JK3, 40K made he la ges con ibu ion
o I. Fo all samples, 232Th made he lowes con ibu ion o I.
Simila o he I index, he Hex index exceeded uni y only
o he JK5 g ani e sample, which ga e a Hex = 1.3 (Tab. 3,
Fig.12). The emaining samples ga e Hex alues o less han
one. All samples ga e an a e age Hex alue o 0.77. The la g-
es con ibu ion o Hex alues again came om 226Ra excep
o he wo samples K42 and JK3, o which he la ges
con ibu ion came om 40K. The calcula ed Hex alues o
he Je oným Mine ocks esemble ypical alues calcula ed
o g ani es used in cons uc ion. Fo example, comme cial
g ani es om I aly, G eece and Sweden gi e a e age Hex al-
ues o 0.56, 0.73 and 0.97, espec i ely. G ani es om Japan
gi e Hex alues anging om 0.33 o 1.88 wi h an a e age
alue o 0.66 (Hassan e al. 2010). G ani es om Egyp ga e
Hex alues anging om 0.7 o 1.77 wi h an a e age alue o
1.12 (Ha b e al. 2012).
Conclusions
G ani es and schis s om he Je oným Mine ga e mean
ac i i y alues o 40K, 232Th and 238U o 907, 33 and
166Bq kg−1, espec i ely. A e age 226Ra (238U) ac i i y
concen a ions exceeded a e age alues measu ed o ypi-
cal g ani es and schis s. The es ima es o I and Hex indices
used o assess adiological haza d indica e ha he ocks
om Je oným Mine ep esen sa e en i onmen al ma e i-
als. Gamma ay adia ion om he ock su oundings in he
Je oným Mine does no pose a isk o po en ial ou is s and
s a . Fu u e analyses should include insi u adon measu e-
men s o con i m he low le el o he adiological isk.
Acknowledgemen s This esea ch is pe o med wi h he long- e m
concep ual de elopmen o he esea ch p og am o he Academy o
Sciences o he Czech Republic, RVO: 68145535 and wi h he inan-
cial suppo o he esea ch p og am o he Ins i u e o Ea h Sciences,
Uni e si y o Silesia, Poland, ZB-14-2020.
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Fig. 11 Calcula ed I index alues showing con ibu ions om 40K
(IK), 232Th (ITh) and 226Ra (IRa) componen s. The solid line shows he
a e age alue o all samples
Fig. 12 Calcula ed Hex index alues showing con ibu ions om 40K
(HK), 232Th (HTh) and 226Ra (HRa) componen s. The solid line shows
he a e age alue o all samples