Photon and neutron shielding features of quarry tuff

The shielding characteristics of quarry tuff (cantera) against photons and 241AmBe neutrons, were determined. The effective atomic number of cantera, the Exposure and the Energy absorption buildup factors for photons in cantera were also calculated. The XCOM code was used to calculate the photon interaction coefficients. Also, Monte Carlo method was used to model a photon transmission experiment in cantera. Collided and uncollided photon fluence, Kerma in air, and Ambient dose equivalent were estimated. With the uncollided photon fluence the linear attenuation coefficients were determined and compared with those calculated with the XCOM code. The linear attenuation coefficient for 0.662 MeV photons was compared with the coefficient measured with a NaI(Tl)-based γ-ray spectrometer and a 137Cs source. The Monte Carlo model was also used to estimate the neutron spectra of 241AmBe neutrons in function of cantera thickness, the Effective and the Ambient dose equivalent for the collided and uncollided neutrons. Cantera has good shielding properties for low energy photons and poor shielding features against 241AmBe neutrons.