Antonios Koroneos

Natural radioactivity distribution and gamma radiation exposure of beach sands from Sithonia Peninsula

This study aims to evaluate the activity concentrations of 238U, 226Ra, 232Th, 228Th and 40K along the beaches of Sithonia Peninsula which are adjacent to the rock-types of the Sithonia Plutonic Complex. These range from 6–673, 5–767, 5–1750, 6–1760 and 185–875 Bq/kg respectively. The (% wt.) heavy magnetic (HM) fraction (epidote, allanite, hornblende, biotite and garnet), the heavy non-magnetic (HNM) fraction (monazite, zircon, titanite and apatite) and the total heavy (TH) fraction, were correlated with the concentrations of the measured radionuclides in the bulk samples. The HNM fraction seems to control the activity concentrations of 238U in all samples, while the HM fraction, at least for the heavy mineral rich samples bearing high amounts of epidote crystals with allanite cores, controls their 232Th content. The measured radionuclides in beach sands were normalized to the respective values measured in the granitic rocks, which are their most probable parent rocks, in order to provide data on their enrichment or depletion. The annual effective dose varies from 0.013 to 0.688 mSv y−1 for local people working on the beach, while for tourists the annual external effective dose ranges between 0.003 and 0.165 mSv y−1.

Radioactive secular equilibrium in 238U and 232Th series in granitoids from Greece

Granitoid rocks belonging to plutons of Greece, covering a wide range of compositions and rock-types, have been studied for their specific activity (Bq/kg) of (238)U and (226)Ra from (238)U radioactive series and (228)Ra and (228)Th from (232)Th radioactive series by using gamma-ray spectroscopy. Results on the radioactive secular equilibrium of both (238)U and (232)Th radioactive series are presented by studying the (226)Ra/(238)U and (228)Ra/(228)Th ratios. The majority of the samples are in radioactive secular equilibrium for (226)Ra/(238)U ± 1σ. However, several samples exhibit (226)Ra/(238)U ratios significantly different from 1. The distortion of the secular equilibrium in the (226)Ra-(238)U isotopic system of those samples has occurred over the last 1 Ma, and can be associated with post-magmatic processes, mainly rock-water interactions. All studied samples have (228)Ra/(228)Th ratios equal to unity ±1σ. Consequently, they can be considered to be in secular equilibrium for the last 40 a.

Geochemistry of beach sands from Sithonia Peninsula (Chalkidiki, Northern Greece)

Thirty beach sand samples from the granitic shoreline of the Sithonia Plutonic Complex (SPC) were analyzed for their REE and major element contents. The obtained results are compared with the adjacent SPC rock-types, in order to determine any enrichments or depletions. Among the samples enriched in REE, three are seasonal deposits of heavy minerals and their concentrations are controlled by the action of sea-waves. The available geochemical characteristics were also used to confirm the parental rocks of the beach sands, which are the SPC rock-types. The heavy fractions (total, total magnetic and total non-magnetic) of the beach sands were correlated with the REE concentrations, revealing a strong correlation between the heavy non-magnetic fraction and REE content. Among the minerals of the heavy non-magnetic fraction, monazite seems to control the REE content in the heavy mineral-enriched samples, whereas in the rest of the samples allanite, belonging to the heavy magnetic fraction may be the most important REE mineral.

Natural radioactivity and dose assessment of granitic rocks from the Atticocycladic Zone (Greece)

The activity concentrations of 238 U, 232 Th and 40 K of granite samples taken from the Atticocycladic Zone were measured by gamma-ray spectrometry. These concentrations were compared to the commercial granites imported in Greece and Cyprus. The absorbed, the annual effective dose and the gamma-ray index were determined, so as to assess the radiological impact from the granites investigated, in case they were used as building materials. The range of the absorbed dose rate, the annual effective dose and the gamma index was around a mean value of 86 ± 30 nGy h -1 , 0.6 ± 0.2 mSv y -1 and 1.0 ± 0.2, respectively. Taking into consideration the internal exposure due to radon inhalation, the annual effective dose, in a room fully constructed by granite, varies between 0.4 and 1.4 mSv y -1 . Consequently, since the contribution of the granitic rocks to the total mass of most of the constructions is very low, the samples investigated could be used safely as building materials.

Geochemistry of beach sands from Kavala, Northern Greece

Thirty-seven beach sand samples from the shoreline close to Kavala pluton were analyzed for REE and major element contents. Results are compared with the adjacent plutonic rock-types, in order to determine any enrichments or depletions. Among the samples, several are significantly enriched in REE, being seasonal deposits of heavy minerals and their concentrations are controlled by the action of sea-waves and local winds. The available geochemical characteristics were also used to confirm the parent rocks of the beach sands, which were the rock-types of the Kavala pluton. The heavy fractions (total, total magnetic and total non-magnetic) of the beach sands are moderately correlated with the REE concentrations. Among the minerals of the heavy non-magnetic fraction, allanite seems to control the REE content in the heavy mineral-enriched samples.

Natural radioactivity distribution and gammaradiation exposure of beach sands close to Kavalapluton, Greece

Abstract This study aims to evaluate the activity concentrations of 238U, 226Ra, 232Th, 228Th and 40K along the beaches of Kavala being adjacent to the rock-types of the Kavala pluton. These ranged from 14–940, 16–1710, 26– 4547, 27–4488 and 194–1307 Bq/kg respectively, representing the highest values of natural radioactivity measured in sediments of Greece. The (%wt.) heavy magnetic (HM) (allanite, amphibole, mica, clinopyroxene, magnetite and hematite) fraction, the heavy non-magnetic (HNM) (monazite, zircon, titanite and apatite) fraction and the total heavy fraction (TH), were correlated with the concentrations of the measured radionuclides in the bulk samples. The heavy fractions seem to control the activity concentrations of 238U and 232Th of all the samples, showing some local differences in the main 238U and 232Th mineral carrier. The measured radionuclides in the beach sands were normalized to the respective values measured in the granitic rocks, which are their most probable parental rocks, so as to provide data upon their enrichment or depletion. The annual equivalent dose varies between 0.01 and 0.35 mSv y−1 for tourists and from 0.03 to 1.48 mSv y−1 for local people working on the beach.

Modern sands derived from the Vertiskos Unit of the Serbomacedonian Massif (N. Greece): a preliminary study on the weathering of the Unit

Modern sand samples were collected from the Vertiskos Unit of the Serbomacedonian Massif, northern Greece, and were examined for their texture and mineralogical composition. They were collected from active channels and torrents. The textural study demonstrated that these modern sands are moderately to very-poorly sorted, often polymodal in grain size distribution, texturally and mineralogically immature to submature, and consist of coarse-grained gravelly sands to slightly-gravelly muddy sands. The dominant composition is quartzofeldspathic. All samples contain detrital minerals of metamorphic origin, mainly amphibole and garnet, in addition to minor amounts of pyroxene and detrital calcite. These sediments were deposited rapidly and close to their source, the metamorphic basement of the Vertiskos Unit. The mineral constituents of the samples indicate that the Vertiskos Unit is undergoing rapid physical weathering due to the temperate and seasonal climate. The results of this study suggest that these modern sands constitute one sedimentary petrologic province comprised of primarily of amphibole-garnet.

Concentration of 238U and 232Th among constituent minerals of two igneous plutonic rocks exhibiting elevated natural radioactivity levels

The concentrations of 238U and 232Th of the constituent minerals in two plutonic rock samples, from N. Greece, exhibiting elevated levels of bulk rock natural radioactivity were determined by using LA-ICP-MS. The available data of whole rock 238U and 232Th concentrations were also used. The minerals were separated using a combination of heavy liquids of various densities, shaking table and magnetic separation techniques. The great variation in the concentrations of 238U and 232Th is probably indicative of the different distribution of U and Th within the same rock, as well as to secondary post-magmatic processes that were responsible for the redistribution of U and Th. An estimation of the contribution of each mineral constituent to the natural radioactivity levels of the bulk rock is attempted. Thorite and zircon contribute the most to the whole rock 238U and 232Th content, while the contribution of apatite is moderate. The contribution of the rest of the minerals examined (fluorite, quartz, plagioclase, K-feldspar, amphibole, pyroxene, magnetite and biotite) is not important.

Using detrital garnets to determine provenance: a case study from the Vertiskos Unit (Serbomacedonian Massif, N. Greece)

Garnet single crystals of several millimeters in diameter were collected from the uppermost horizon of a soil profile developing immediately on the gneissic rocks of the Vertiskos Unit of the Serbomacedonian Massif in northern Greece. The garnets were analyzed for major elements by EDS analyzer mounted on a scanning electron microscope, and the obtained data were utilized to determine their source rocks. Bivariate diagrams, spider diagrams as well as statistical analysis were used in order to correlate and compare the garnet composition of the basement rocks of the Vertiskos Unit with the existing reference data. This case study demonstrates the difficulty in assigning a source rock to sediment, using only the chemical compositional of detrital garnet. Direct linking of the detrital garnets and the outcropping rocks is not always possible despite well documented outcrop lithologies. This is largely due to a complex metamorphic evolution that leads to overlapping compositions between garnets originating from different lithologies that have undergone similar metamorphic processes and alteration effects.

Geochemical and Sr-Nd isotopic evidence for origin and evolution of the Miocene Pangeon granitoids, Southern Rhodope, Greece

The Sr-Nd isotopic ratios of selected post-collisional, calc-alkaline, I-type granitoids from the Pangeon pluton, intruding the lower tectonic unit (LTU) in the Southern Rhodope in the Miocene, support the existence of two types of granitoids (PTG porphyritic tonalite granodiorite and MGG biotite granodiorite to two-mica granite) unrelated by crystal fractionation and likely derived by partial melting of the same source under different P-T conditions. The Sr-Nd isotopic ratios of mafic enclaves in the granitoids as well as metamorphic rocks from the LTU have also been determined. At 22 Ma, the IRSr range between 0.706850 and 0.708381, whereas the εNd(22) range from –3.86 to –1.05, with no relationship to granitoid types. The relationships between Sr and Nd isotopes as well as these isotopes and SiO2 provide evidence of contamination of mafic melts by interaction with crust during magma differentiation. Both partial melting and AFC processes (r = 0.2) may account for compositional variations in the Pangeon magmas. The mafic enclaves display IRSr from 0.706189 to 0.707139, and εNd(22) from –2.29 to –1.94, similar to the granitoids, supporting the hypothesis of a common origin. Amphibolites inferred to be subduction-enriched metabasalts under-plated crust during old subduction can represent the source of the Pangeon melts. The TDM of the Pangeon granitoids is in the range 0.7–1.1 Ga for the inferred extraction age of the LILE-enriched subcontinental lithospheric mantle source. The upper crustal geochemical signatures and the relatively small isotopic composition of the Pangeon granitoids make these rocks similar to the coeval eastern-Mediterranean lamproites emplaced within the same geodynamic setting; this prompts similar melt sources. Lastly, the Pangeon granitoids display geochemical characteristics, isotopic ratios, and TDM also similar to other Tertiary magmatic rocks from the Southern Rhodope and Biga peninsula, western Anatolia, suggesting a similar tectonic environment and co-magmatic evolution throughout the area.