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The present study evaluated natural radioactivity levels and their correlation with soil mineralogy in the Dharwad region of Karnataka, India. Radionuclide activity in soil was measured using NaI(Tl) gamma-ray spectrometer. Mineralogical characterization was performed using Fourier Transform Infrared spectroscopy, X-Ray diffraction studies, and quantitative phase analysis through Rietveld refinement. Activity concentrations varied from 20 ± 1 to 48 ± 2 Bqkg-1 for 232Th, 4 ± 1 to 67 ± 3 Bqkg-1 for 226Ra, and 109 ± 3 to 412 ± 6 Bqkg-1 for 40K, and were compared with the global average values. Spatial variations were illustrated through contour maps. Rietveld refinement confirmed quartz as the dominant mineral phase, followed by orthoclase, while monazite occurred in trace quantities. Linear regression analysis between the quantified mineral phases and radionuclide activity concentrations revealed a strong positive relationship between orthoclase and 40K, whereas the relationship between monazite and 232Th was weak. The results indicate that the observed 40K activity attributed to potassium-bearing orthoclase, while 232Th activity cannot be attributed solely to monazite but it is one of the thorium-bearing mineral in the study area.
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Bankapur et al. (2026) studied this question.
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