Investigation of radiation absorption coefficients of lead-zinc mine waste rock mixed heavy concrete at 662–1460 keV energy range

The objective of this study is to observe the radiation shielding efficiency of concrete produced by using the lead wastes that are stored in lead-zinc mines processing of which is not financially viable in the mines they are extracted from that have negative effects on the environment. Within this scope, concretes were produced to be used as radiation shield concretes. The samples were prepared by altering the amounts of heavy aggregates such as lead–zinc mine waste, Magnetite, Limonite, and Barite at 25%, 50%, and 75% ratios, and concrete samples were prepared in C16/20, C25/30, and C35/45 concrete strength grades to determine the effects of these grades on radiation absorption properties. In order to determine the radiation absorption coefficients, absorption coefficients at 662 keV, 1173 keV, 1332 keV, and 1460 keV energy levels from Cs-137, Co-60 and K-40 sources were determined by concrete slabs with dimensions of 20 × 20 × 5 cm.