In this study we performed microscopic characterization of mineral particles that were collected in the thorium-rich Fen Complex in Norway and identified and isolated based on autoradiography in function of their radioactivity. For this we combined information obtained with X-ray absorption μ-CT, μ-XRF and μ-XRD, both in bi- and in three-dimensional (tomographic) mode. We demonstrate that radionuclides and metals are heterogeneously distributed both within soil samples and within individual Th-enriched aggregates, which are characterised as low-density mineral bulk particles with high density material inclusions, where Th as well as several metals are highly concentrated. For these sites, it is important to take into account how these inhomogeneous distributions could affect the overall environmental behaviour of Th and progeny upon weathering due to human or environmental factors. Moreover, the estimated size of the Th-containing inclusions as determined in this work represents information of importance for the characterization of radionuclides and toxic metals exposure, as well as for assessing the viability of mining for Th and rare-earth metals in the Fen Complex and the associated environmental impact.

中文翻译：

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来自挪威NORM站点的富or聚集体的微观分析表征（Fen Complex，Telemark）。

在这项研究中，我们对矿物颗粒进行了微观表征，这些矿物颗粒是在挪威富F的F复合物中收集的，并根据放射自显影根据其放射性功能进行鉴定和分离。为此，我们将在二维和X射线（断层摄影）模式下通过X射线吸收μ-CT，μ-XRF和μ-XRD获得的信息进行了组合。我们证明了放射性核素和金属在土壤样品和富Th的单个聚集体中均不均匀分布，其特征是具有高密度材料夹杂物的低密度矿物散装颗粒，其中Th和几种金属高度浓缩。对于这些网站，重要的是要考虑到由于人为或环境因素，这些不均匀的分布如何在风化时影响Th和子代的整体环境行为。此外，这项工作中确定的含Th夹杂物的估计尺寸代表了对于放射性核素和有毒金属暴露的表征以及评估Fen配合物中Th和稀土金属的开采可行性的重要信息。以及相关的环境影响。