Determination of Uranium Content in Selected Soil Samples from Ajaokuta, Kogi State, Nigeria

This work present the Uranium (238U) content in soil samples collected in Ajaokuta from some villages was been determined. Naturally occurring radioactive materials (NORM) refer to natural radionuclides, predominantly 238U, 232Th, 226Ra, 40K and others, which arise from natural processes rather than human activities. They are ubiquitously present in various components of the natural environment, such as rocks, soil, water, atmosphere, as well as flora and fauna. The measurement of the soil Uranium activity concentration were made using a multi–channel pulse height analyzer (Camberra series 10 plus) coupled to a 76.2mm x 76.2mm NaI (TI) scintillation detector. 2.93) The mean Uranium content in the analyzed samples was found to be (44.26 Bq/kg which is higher than the world mean value of 35Bq/kg. The results were in good agreement with others for soils from region which is considered as normal or slightly high in radioactivity level. The present 238U content interval determined in terms of 238U activity concentration for soil samples is according to the results reported in the literature compatible with those found for areas considered as normal or slightly of natural radioactivity.