Study of radiation damage in zircon (ZrSiOâ‚„) crystals using fission tracks and d-spacing values of (112) plane
Document Type
Article
Publication Date
1-1-2006
Abstract
Radiation damage in zircon is caused primarily by α-particles from the chain decays of uranium and thorium and to certain extents by fission fragments of uranium present in the crystals as impurities. We have measured the damage by measuring the fission track densities and the d-spacing of the 112-plane. It is found that the track density and hence radiation damage varies from 1.4 × 10� tracks/cm² for the least damage zircon to 2.6 × 10� tracks/cm² for the most damage zircon studied. The d-value for 112-plane is found to be 2.5136 Å and 2.5177 Å for the least damage to the most damage zircon respectively. Damage in zircon is healed by annealing as can be seen from the reduction in track density and the corresponding decreases in d-spacing of 112-plane. The annealing temperature for complete erasure of the fission track varies from 980°C to 700°C for the most damage to least damage zircon respectively.
Keywords
Radiation damage, Zircon
Divisions
Science
Publication Title
Jurnal Fizik Malaysia
Volume
27
Issue
1
Publisher
Institut Fizik Malaysia