Measurements of natural radioactivity in historical glasses
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Abstract
Natural radioactive components of historical glasses and two methods of the respective measurement of the radioactivity are discussed. The evaluation of radioactivity of glass objects using a Geiger-Müller counter and high-resolution gamma ray spectrometry is presented. Α survey of the Warsaw National Museum glass collection with a Geiger-Müller counter allowed distinguishing the vessels made of potassium and sodium glass by their level of natural radioactivity. Gamma spectrometry, on the other hand, enables estimating a specific radionuclide content. Special attention is given to uranium glasses. One 19th Century Bohemian vessel, coloured with a uranium compound, was carefully examined using gamma spectrometry. K2O and U content were estimated to be 16.2 and 0.33 %, respectively.