Patent ID: 6057542
Filing Date: 2000-05-02
Classification: G01V

Abstract:
A system for determining a composition of a mineral-containing material by detecting gamma and/or x-ray radiation emitted by radionuclides in the material, comprising a detector unit which supplies an electrical signal containing information about the intensity and energy of the emitted radiation and a signal processing system by which these electrical signals are further processed for determining said composition of radionuclides, wherein the signal processing system comprises an A/D converter to which said electrical signals are applied and a first computer unit which further processes signals supplied by the A/D converter for the purpose of determining said composition of radionuclides; the first computer unit composes an energy spectrum of the detected radiation from the signals supplied by the A/D converter; and wherein the first computer unit determines the concentrations C(U), C(Th) and C(K) of the radionuclides uranium, thorium and potassium respectively according to a first algorithm and the relative masses m.sub.j (j=a, b, c or d) of respective mineral groups which are designated a, b, c and d and determined according to a second algorithm, said second algorithm m.sub.j (j=a, b, c or d) being determined from the equation:C.sub.p m=Cwherein ##EQU3## and wherein every mineral group a, b, c or d is characterized by its three known concentrations C.sub.j (U), C.sub.j (Th) and C.sub.j (K) with j=a, b, c or d.