Geography Assignment
Geography Assignment
Question one
Ernest Rutherford is a renown physicist who is known as the father of nuclear physics due to his enormous contribution in the field of radioactivity. Rutherford discovered the concepts on radioactive half-life which assisted in proving that radioactivity is involved with transmutation of a single chemical element to the other. The physicist also differentiated and named the beta and alpha radiations. Rutherford was the first person to design and undertake highly original experiments that had alternating currents as well as high frequency. In his second paper, which was about magnetic viscosity contained a description of time apparatus that can measure time intervals of hundred-thousandths of a single second. Rutherford mentored various other physicists. The first one was J.J. Thompson, who in 1894 was awarded an Exhibition Scholarship for Science for 1851. This enabled him to attend college as a research student in the laboratory of Cavendish in Cambridge. Together, they researched on the effects X-rays based on the gasses conductivity. This research resulted in a paper on the division of atoms and molecules into ions. Secondly, he mentored Frederick Soddy, who was his assistant during his time at McGill University. “Rutherford and Soddy collaborated in research that was on transmutation of elements,” ("Ernest Rutherford: Father of nuclear science," 2014). Rutherford had shown that indeed radioactivity is as a result of spontaneous atom disintegration. The research enabled them to notice that a material that is radioactive took invariably the same time for half of the sample to commence decaying which known half-life. Practical application was developed using a constant rate of decay as a clock which they applied in measuring the actual age of the earth determining that earth is older than it was believed. Rutherford and Soddy introduced the theory of disintegration. The theory claimed that radioactive energy is emitted from within an atom and beta, and alpha particles are emitted at the same time.
Question two
Weathering has led to the presence of uranium deposits in some regions that did not originally have the deposits. This has been mainly contributed by water as a core agent of weathering. Uranium has a high solubility in water. It is a heavy metal that is highly radioactive. Due to its soluble nature, it dissolves easily in water. This makes it easier to be transported as well as precipitated within the ground waters. Where water that has a high content of uranium settles, a uranium deposit will result after water has evaporated. In many situations, uranium mineralization accumulates in basins after being transported from higher altitude areas.
Unconformity deposits are due to geological changes that occur near the main Proterozoic unconformities’. “Underneath these unconformities,' metasedimentary rocks that host uranium mineralization are often faulted and brecciated,” ("Geology of Uranium Deposits - World Nuclear Association," 2015). The young Proterozoic rocks that are young are most of the times under-formed. Uranium deposits that are related to unconformity make up at least on third for the western nation’s uranium deposits. This type of deposit makes up the richest and largest uranium deposits. The main minerals are pitchblende and uraninite which are associated with the robust dissolution of quartz.
Roll front deposit is a type of sandstone deposit. This type of uranium deposits occurs in sandstones that are medium to coarse grained. The sandstones are deposited in an environment that has a marginal marine sedimentary or a continental fluvial environment. In roll front deposits, the arcuate masses of mineralization cut across beddings of sandstone. The cutting is most of the times in paleochannels. Examples of these include Crow Butte, Tortkuduk, and Kazakhstan.
Question three
South Mountain batholith contains important mineralization of uranium and tin. The region is covered with granitoid rocks that house the two minerals. South Mountain Batholith is covered with the largest peraluminous granitoid body in the entire region of Appalachian orogeny. Areas surrounding Nova Scotia have a high concentration of uranium and tin. Therefore, most of the areas in the South Mountain Batholith have high chances of containing deposits of uranium. However, the occurrence of large deposits is likely to be found near or in para-intrusive rock suites that are characterized by robust graphite elements. To know if an area in South Mountain batholith has the least potential for radon and radioactivity, a test to check the presence of uranium deposit has to be undertaken. The steps followed will be as follows:
Visit the Provincial Geological survey or the internet and collect basic information from the geological maps. Get large scale geological information on South Mountain as to the U showings marked in the region.
Match the types of rocks found in the area to determine those that have high chances of holding uranium deposits. Patterns are to be made to show rock types in South Mountain Batholith and if they are faults or uniformities.
Collect more information that will assist help in finding areas concentrated with uranium.
Examine the regional scale maps for radioactivity levels.
With the help of scintillometer pinpoint areas that are highly concentrated with uranium deposits, those that are less concentrated, and those have no uranium present. Plots of the regions have to be made to ensure that construction of the hotel is done in an area that is free from uranium to avoid radioactivity.
In case one is exposed to radioactivity, the following measures should be taken:
Ensuring there is minimal exposure to surface contamination
Use of breathing protectors to avoid inhaling radioactive materials present in the air.
Avoiding ingestion of contaminated water and food.
References
Ernest Rutherford: father of nuclear science. (2014). TNZ Media. Retrieved 15 April 2016, from http://media.newzealand.com/en/story-ideas/ernest-rutherford-father-of-nuclear-science/
Geology of Uranium Deposits - World Nuclear Association. (2015). World-nuclear.org. Retrieved 15 April 2016, from http://www.world-nuclear.org/information-library/nuclear-fuel-cycle/uranium-resources/geology-of-uranium-deposits.aspx
