NORM ELEMENTS
Uranium, Radium, Radon……..These elements are dissolved in very low concentrations during normal reactions between water and rock or soil. Water, the universal solvent, can dissolve constituents that build up during prolonged periods of water/rock contact.
Uranium -238 and Thorium-232 Decay Series
- Two decay series found in NORM deposits – from U-238 and Th-232.
- Uranium-238 emits alphas, betas and gammas decaying through protoactinium, thorium, radium, radon, polonium and bismuth to stable lead-206.
- Thorium-232 emits alphas, betas and gammas decaying through radium, actinium, radon, bismuth, polonium and thallium to stable lead-208.
- Daughter products of these radioactive elements, Radium-226 & Radium-228 are chemically similar to the sedimentary formations containing oil & gas reservoirs.