Th-230/Th-232 Sedimentation Rates and the Natural Radiation Background Along the Western Coast of Israel. Final Report for the Period 15 December 1977 - 31 October 1981

摘要

The natural radiation background of the sediments from the southeastern province of the Levant Basin was determined by both alpha-particle spectrometry and by gamma-ray spectrometry using a specially low background high resolution Ge(Li) detector. The Nile river derived clastics dominates the sediment character along the Israeli coast. The radioelements in nine cores under the Nile's influence are readily distinguishable, having higher potassium, uranium and thorium contents, from the more carbonate rich sediments investigated in three cores from the northwestern province of the Levant Basin. Significant fluctuations exist in the radiometal content with depth within individual cores. The rate of sediment transport and deposition are so rapid that no Th-230 excess accumulated in the sediment deposited relatively nearshore. In the deep water of the Herodotus Basin only a small degree of Th-230 excess is recorded. Determination of absolute rates of sedimentation by uranium series disequilibria is not feasible for the sediments near to the Israeli coast, while such studies in the Herodotus Basin would require long core lengths to succeed. (Atomindex citation 14:764135)