Tailoring of thermoluminescent properties and assessment of trapping parameters of natural fluorite samples from Dogargaon fluorite mines, India.

Mineral fluorite or fluorspar (CaF2 ) can host significant quantities of trivalent REE3+ (rare earth element) by substitution with divalent Ca2+ . The fluorites associated with carbonatites are often REE-rich compared to those derived from sedimentary, hydrothermal, or Mississippi Valley-type (MVT) fluorites. The naturally occurring fluorites have several industrial applications one of which is for luminescence. Whether or not REE enriched, the fluorite makes an ideal host for REEs, which are very important phosphors. The naturally occurring fluorites are available in sufficient quantities to cater to the industrial demand. Investigations have been carried out on the fluorites from active fluorite mines at Dongargaon in central India. Thermoluminescence behavior of a natural fluorite sample was investigated using a Nucleonix TL 1009I thermoluminescence reader. Multiple traps formed in the broad thermoluminescent (TL) glow curve were found by TL anal deconvolution software. Trapping parameters for all multiple traps formed on deconvoluting broad TL glow curve were found by different methods like Initial rise method, Chen's Peak shape method and Ilich method.

Investigation of thermoluminescence response and trapping parameters of natural barite samples from Dongargaon mine, India.

Dosimetry is a technique that quantitatively measures the ionizing radiation absorbed by matter. The present study was conducted on the barites from a mine at Dongargaon in Central India. Morphological and structural analysis of proposed sample was carried out using X-ray diffraction and standard error of the mean. Thermal analysis and chemical composition of the proposed sample were carried out using thermogravimetric analysis and differential thermal analysis, and electron probe microanalysis. Thermoluminescence (TL) studies on a natural barite sample were performed using a Nucleonix TL1009I TL reader following sample irradiation with γ-rays generated from a 60 Co irradiation source. A broad TL glow curve was observed after TL study that was then deconvoluted using TLanal deconvolution software. Trapping parameters from the sample such as activation energy (E), order of kinetics (b), and frequency factor (s) were calculated using Chen's peak shape method, the initial rise method, and Ilich's method. The results indicated that the natural barite sample could be used in high-dose TL dosimetric applications in various fields.