Uranium thorium and potassium contents analysis of rocks in Changwat Narathiwat by gamma spectrometry

Quantitative analysis of three radioactive elements (potassium, equivalent uranium, and equivalent thorium) in the granite rocks of the Triassic Age at 24 locations in Narathiwat province was carried out by using a gamma counter. It was found that potassium, equivalent uranium and equivalent thorium contents were on the average of 3.63% (in the range of 1.56-5.24%), 8.55 ppm (2.98-15.27 ppm) and 18.74 ppm (0.34- 52.14 ppm), respectively. It is worth noting that the radiation detected from the rocks collected in the three areas : the north, the east and the southwest was higher than in the other places. Potassium and equivalent uranium contents were nearly the same as found in the granite rocks of the Triassic Age in the northern part of Thailand, while equivalent thorium was lower. In addition, the contents of the three elements in the same kind of rocks of the same age were almost the same as found elsewhere around the world. However, the contents of the above elements in the rocks of the Triassic Age in Narathiwat were found to be 1-2 times lower than those of the Cretaceous Age in Pattani province next to Narathiwat province. Moreover, the results were consistent with those investigated by the airborne survey of the Department of Mineral Resources. In conclusion, this information helps to confirm that several areas in Narathiwat province may have a high potential for minerals deposit