Experimental studies on the correlation between radon exhalation rate and U/Ra occurrence in sandstone uranium ore

This study on the correlation between radon exhalation rate (RER), measured by an accumulation chamber, and occurrence of uranium observed by scanning electron microscopy was conducted to better understand the microscopic mechanism of radon generation and release from uranium ore. The RER of uranium ore varies widely, ranging 160–6.71×104 Bq m−2 h. The RER is the highest in high grade uranium ore with spherical pitchblende, and that is the second with amorphous pitchblende or uraninite. The RER of uranium-bearing minerals is lower. The RER of non-ore is low and relatively stable, varied from 1.2 to 8.8 Bq m−2 h. It is found that radon exhalation rate is proportional to the specific activity of radium and related to the occurrence of uranium.