210Pb determination by gamma spectrometry in voluminal samples (cylindrical geometry)

In this paper a simple method for the direct analysis of 210Pb (T1/2=22.3 years) by gamma-ray spectrometry in sediment samples with coaxial Ge detectors is outlined. This method, developed for a cylindrical sample geometry, accounts for variable sample heights and provides a fundamental advantage: individual self-absorption corrections can easily be determined knowing the apparent densities of the samples. The results obtained with the proposed method are in good agreement with those given by other techniques.