Role of light and heavy minerals on natural radioactivity level of high background radiation area, Kerala, India

• Due to the higher activity concentrations, the present sediments pose significant radiological threat to the peoples.
• Light mineral characterization shows the presence of eight light minerals.
• Heavy mineral separation analysis revealed the presence of nine heavy minerals.
• Multivariate statistical analysis gives an idea about the role of mineralogy on radionuclide concentrations.
• Along with clay content, the heavy minerals induce the 238U and 232Th concentrations and light mineral calcite controls the 40K concentration.

Natural radionuclides (238U, 232Th and 40K) concentrations and eight different radiological parameters have been analyzed for the beach sediments of Kerala with an aim of evaluating the radiation hazards. Activity concentrations (238U and 232Th) and all the radiological parameters in most of the sites have higher values than recommended values. The Kerala beach sediments pose significant radiological threat to the people living in the area and tourists going to the beaches for recreation or to the sailors and fishermen involved in their activities in the study area. In order to know the light mineral characterization of the present sediments, mineralogical analysis has been carried out using Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopic technique. The eight different minerals are identified and they are characterized. Among the various observed minerals, the minerals such as quartz, microcline feldspar, kaolinite and calcite are major minerals. The relative distribution of major minerals is determined by calculating extinction co-efficient and the values show that the amount of quartz is higher than calcite and much higher than microcline feldspar. Crystallinity index is calculated to know the crystalline nature of quartz present in the sediments. Heavy mineral separation analysis has been carried out to know the total heavy mineral (THM) percentage. This analysis revealed the presence of nine heavy minerals. The minerals such as monazite, zircon, magnetite and illmenite are predominant. Due to the rapid and extreme changes occur in highly dynamic environments of sandy beaches, quantities of major light and heavy minerals are widely varied from site to site. Granulometric analysis shows that the sand is major content. Multivariate statistical (Pearson correlation, cluster and factor) analysis has been carried out to know the effect of mineralogy on radionuclide concentrations. The present study concluded that heavy minerals induce the 238U and 232Th concentrations. Whereas, light mineral (calcite) controls the 40K concentration. In addition to the heavy minerals, clay content also induces the important radioactive variables.