Distribution of Natural Radioactivity from K-40 Radioelement in Volcanics of Sandikh-Suhut (Afyon) Area

Many radioactive elements have existed when the Earth had appeared and the long living of them are still present. One of the most important of these radioactive elements is K-40. It makes about 0.012% of total content of K, widely represented in many different rocks. In this study the distribution of the natural K-40 radioelement in the volcanics of the south part of Afyon was investigated. Gamma-ray spectrometer was used for in-situ measurements of this radioelement concentration. Studied area has covered approximately 1800 km(2). In-situ measurements were performed at 1390 different locations in this field. Data for each measurement was gathered during 3 min. The map of the K-40 element distribution in the studied area was produced. The high values of K-40, according to this map, were obtained in the areas of the alteration zones, between Sandikh and Suhut in the studied area.