Evaluation of usability of several minerals to shield Am-241/Be neutron source using by GEANT4 and FLUKA Monte Carlo simulation codes

Recently applications including radiation are extremely common depending on the progress of technology. It is known that radiation damages to living organisms. There are three way protecting this damage as distance, time and shielding. The aim of this study is to recommend a new mineral-based shield and collimator material against Am-241/Be radiation source especially widely used in nuclear researches emitted both 4,5 MeV neutrons and 59,54 keV gamma rays. In this thesis shielding capacities of the Am-241/Be source of ten natural minerals are simulated. FLUKA and GEANT4 Monte Carlo simulation codes are used for 4,5 MeV neutron total macroscopic cross sections and 59,54 keV gamma linear attenuation coefficient calculations. Also similar simulation procedures are applied on concrete sample one of the widely used construction material to evaluate shielding performances of ten minerals. Obtained results for ten minerals are compared with concrete and it is determined that all minerals have higher shielding capacity compared to concrete. The most important output of this work is that Anyuiite mineral can shield both neutron particles and gamma rays.