Mass attenuation coefficients of soil and sediment samples using gamma energies from 46.5 to 1332 keV

Mass attenuation coefficients of various soil and sediment samples (density range between 1.0 and 1.7 g cm−3) collected from 60 sites distributed in Syrian land have been determined for gamma lines of 46.5, 59.5, 88, 122, 165, 392, 661, 1173, and 1332 keV using gamma spectrometry and simulation software program X-com. The average mass attenuation coefficients for the studied samples were found to be 0.513, 0.316, 0.195, 0.155, 0.134, 0.096, 0.077, 0.058, and 0.055 cm2 g−1 at previous energies, respectively. The results have shown that Ca and Fe contents of the samples have strong effect on the mass attenuation coefficient at lower energies. In addition, self-attenuation correction factors determined using mass attenuation coefficient was in good agreement with addition spiked reference material method provided that the sample thickness is 2.7 cm. However, mass attenuation coefficients determined in this study can be used for determination of gamma emitters at energy ranges from 46.5 to 1332 keV in any soil and sediment samples having density of 1.0–1.7 g cm−3.

► Mass attenuation coefficients of various soil and sediment samples have been determined for several gamma lines.
► Mass attenuation coefficients for all types of soil and sediment samples for energy range higher than 165 keV, are similar.
► Fe and Ca in samples have a strong effect on mass attenuation coefficient for energies less than 165 keV.