![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() Samples from most of the major hot springs in southwestern Montana have been analyzed for gross alpha and beta activity. The temperature, percent sodium, and radioactivity of mixed waters adjacent to the fault zone increase with depth. Local surface water and shallow ground water are of the calcium bicarbonate type and exhibit low background activity. Radium-226 in the rock and on fractured surfaces or coprecipitated with calcium carbonate probably is the principal source of radon that is dissolved in the thermal water and discharged with other gases from some wells and springs. The radioactive thermal waters at measured temperatures of about 60Â☌ are of the sodium bicarbonate type and saturated with respect to calcium carbonate. Part of the discharge is diverted for space heating, bathing, and domestic use. The discharge contains high concentrations of radon, and the gross alpha activity and the concentration of adium-226 exceed maximum levels recommended by the Environmental Protection Agency for drinking water. Radioactive hot springs issue from a fault zone in crystalline rock of the Boulder batholith at Alhambra, Jefferson County, in southwestern Montana. Natural radioactivity in geothermal waters, Alhambra Hot Springs and nearby areas, Jefferson County, Montana Spring deposits at fast-flowing CaCO/sub 3/-dominated systems are generally less radioactive than calcareous deposits at slower flowing springs. sup 226/Ra preferentially associates with Ca therefore, where tufa and siliceous sinter are present in a deposit, the calcareous material is highest in radioacnvity. Gamma spectrometry disclosed the enrichment of / sup 226/Ra with respect to its parent U in CaCO/submore » 3/-dominated systems. High radioactivities, primarily from /sup 226/Ra, are associated with hot-spring systems dominated by CaCO/sub 3/, while silica-dominated systems sre relatively low in radioactivity. At several locations /sup 222/Rn, emanating from the water, casuses recognizable ganna anomalies. Gamma dose rates measured on-site range from 2 to 500 mu rphr, and depend msinly on the amounts of the natural radioelements in the spring deposits. Radioactivity of Nevada hot-spring systemsĭOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)įield gamma radiometry and laboratory gamma spectrometry of waters and spring deposits were accomplished for some hot-sprin systems in northern Nevada. ![]()
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