Journal of Earth Sciences and Geotechnical Engineering

Pattern of Radiogenic Heat Production in Rock Samples of Southwestern Nigeria

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• Abstract

  Survey for radiometric minerals has become important over the last few decades because of the demand for alternative to present common source of energy. Radiometric survey is one of the geophysical techniques in use in exploration for geothermal energy, which is generated mainly from the decay of long-lived radioactive isotopes. The main objective of this study is to obtain the pattern of contribution of the elements to the radiogenic heat production (RHP) in the Southwestern Nigeria. Fresh rock samples were collected from six states in Southwestern Nigeria and the concentration of ⁴⁸K, ²³⁸U and ²³²Th from the samples were determined in the laboratory through spectrometry of emitted gamma rays, using a cylindrical NaI(Tl) detector. The results show that the contribution and rate of heat production of ⁴⁰K, ²³⁸U and ²³²Th in the samples vary significantly with geological locations, with ⁴⁰K as the major element which predominates in heat production, while ²³⁸U and ²³²Th are trace elements. The radiogenic heat production elements (RHPE) contribution shows that Ekiti, Ondo and Osun have the same pattern of radiogenic heat production contribution of the elements to the radiogenic heat production (RHP) in the Southwestern Nigeria. Fresh rock samples were collected from six states in Southwestern Nigeria and the concentration of ⁴⁸K, ²³⁸U and ²³²Th from the samples were determined in the laboratory through spectrometry of emitted gamma rays, using a cylindrical NaI(Tl) detector. The results show that the contribution and rate of heat production of ⁴⁰K, ²³⁸U and ²³²Th in the samples vary significantly with geological locations, with40K as the major element which predominates in heat production, while ²³⁸U and ²³²Th are trace elements. The radiogenic heat production elements (RHPE) contribution shows that Ekiti, Ondo and Osun have the same pattern of radiogenic heat production.