Determination of radioactivity levels in Turkish stones used as building materials and investigation of their radioactivity relations with mineralogic and chemical compositions

All building materials consist of natural radio nuclides in varying amounts. Materials produced from rocks and soil generally contain natural radionuclide series, as 238U (Uranium) and 232Th (Thorium) with radioactive isotope as 40K (potassium). In U series, 226Ra series have an important place in radioactive half life series. Therefore, references are made for Radium series rather than Uranium. The aim of controlling the radioactivity in building materials is to prevent the increase in the natural radiation dozes taken due to use of these materials. Unfortunately, it is not possible to prevent the radiation from the stones completely, because, the extent of use areas of them is very broad.The aim of this study is to measure the radio activities of the stone samples, such as granite, marble, basalt, travertine, ect. taken from the main stone mines and to determine their relation between their radio activities and chemical compositions and geological formations.This thesis could provide useful information to set the standards, for the building materials from the radioactivity point of view.