A simplified technique for gamma-spectrometric analysis of 210Pb in sediment samples

A simplified technique for the direct analysis of 210Pb by γ-spectrometry is developed. This technique corrects for the sample geometry, counting efficiency and the effects of self-absorption by eliminating the need for making individual transmission measurements of the 46.5 keV gamma, on every sample. Results obtained by using this technique on three types of sediment samples show an excellent agreement with other techniques which use individual transmission measurements to determine and correct for the effects of self-absorption.