Thermal neutron absorption cross section and clay mineral content for Miocene Carpathian samples

A correlation between the thermal neutron absorption cross section and the clay volume for samples from the chosen geological region is discussed. A c omparison of the calculated and measured absorption cross sections as a fun ction of clay volume allows an estimate to be made on the presence of highl y absorbing impurities in clays. From the example presented, it was deduced that 105 ppm of B or 25 ppm of Gd in the clay minerals in the samples test ed would be sufficient to explain the difference between the experimental a nd calculated cross section and clay mineral sections. (C) 2000 Elsevier Sc ience Ltd. All rights reserved.