Gamma-ray absorbing characteristic of obsidian rocks as a potential material for radiation protection

In this study, natural radionuclide levels and mass absorption coefficients of obsidian samples were examined to determine their gamma radiation properties. Fourteen obsidian samples were collected from 7 different locations in Rize province, İkizdere region, Turkey. X-ray fluorescence measurements of the samples revealed the silica structure and comparable elemental structure with slight differences in atomic ratios. Radionuclide analysis showed that the 137Cs activity was below the detection limit, and the mean activities of 238U, 232Th and 40K were 93 ± 9, 67 ± 7, 1027 ± 19 Bq.kg−1, respectively. The average experimental mass absorption coefficients at 81.0 keV, 302.9 keV, 356.0 keV and 661.7 keV were found to be 0.216, 0.108, 0.098 and 0.080 cm2 g−1, respectively. In the