Quantification of 222Rn exhalation rates and effective 226Ra content from geological samples across the Kopili Fault Zone, India

The study presents measurements of Rn-222 exhalation rates, Ra-226 contents and radiological exposure doses of granite, gneiss, shale, sandstone and soil samples across the seismically active Kopili Fault Zone, India using LR-115 (II) track detectors. The granites were found to have higher Rn-222 exhalation rates than the other types of rocks. The study shows higher Rn-222 exhalation rates and radiological exposure doses of soil samples collected near the fault than those collected away from the fault. However, the Ra-226 contents in every geological sample were within the global average value of 40 Bq kg(-1) for materials used in common buildings.