1. Country report: Air pollution & mineral resources
FY2016 FNCA Joint Workshop on Research Reactor Network project and Neutron Activation Analysis Project
Country report: Air pollution & mineral resources
DAMDINSUREN Gantumur
School of Engineering and Applied Sciences
Nuclear Research Center
National University of Mongolia

2. Country profile Total Area: 1.5 million km.sq (19st)
Population: 3 million (138th)
Population density: 1.97 km2
Capital: Ulaanbaatar /Red Hero/
Location: land-locked
Province: 21
Language: Mongolia 90%; Kazakh and other
Religion: Buddhism (53%) Shamanism (4%); Islam (3%)

3. Outline REE in Mongolia Poly-metal resources
Air pollution in Ulaanbaatar

4. REE in Mongolia

5. Introduction of REE in Mongolia
Schematic location map of major Mongolian REE deposits
REE resources: 31 million tons (2009 estimation by the U.S. Geological Survey)
16.77 percent of the world’s total
six REE provinces in Mongolia
Number
REE deposits
Resource, ton 1
Khotgor 2
Mushgia Khudag 3
Khalzan Burged 4
Lugiin Gol

6. Optimization of NAA by MT-22
Experiment data
MT-22 average current: 7 μA
Irradiation time: 1.5 hour
Wait time: 2, 24, 48, 120 hours
Measure time: 1(5) hour №
Sample name
Weight, g 1
Ore 1
6.0433 2
Ore 2
4.3892 3
Ore 3
5.0014 4
УСЗ
2.3688 5
УСЗ
2.4761
Cu-monitor
Cu weight, g 1
0.2440 2
0.2618 3
0.2485 4
0.2650 5
0.2467 6
0.2609
Figure. Lugiin gol deposits (Sampling)

7. Assessment of half-life /REE/

8. Comparison of results Example: La-140
Isotope
Gamma energy, keV
Wait time
УСЗ reference sample, ppm
Experiment value
Reference value [6]
57La140
329
2 hours
492±33
434±34 ppm
24 hours
473±25
48 hours
448±25
120 hours
454±30
487
498±46
459±17
439±14
366±39
867
561±62
353±40
509±52
401±39
1596
486±18
450±16
447±15
529±59
2521
369±70
580±48
452±25
378±60

9. УСЗ-44-2007 reference sample, ppm
Results №
Isotope
Gamma energy, keV
Wait time, hour
УСЗ reference sample, ppm
Experiment value
Reference value [6] 1
29Cu64
511 24
25.1±3.1
27.37±6.13 2
33As76
559.1
274±67
224±24 3
58Ce143
293.3 48
1100±100
1000±80 4
59Pr141
1575
112±28
122±10 5
62Sm153
103.2
92.5±17.0
120±5 6
63Eu152m
344.3
8.6±0.3
8.3±1.1 №
Elements,
Sample name
Ore 1
Ore 2
Ore 3 1
Cu, ppm
10±1
32.5±3.3
29.7±2.5 2
As, ppm
128±12
236±12 - 3
La, %
5.38±0.03
1.36±0.01
2.03±0.01 4
Ce, %
3.33±0.07
0.91±0.04
1.14±0.04 5
Pr, %
1.57±0.02
0.15±0.01
0.14±0.04 6
Sm, %
1.42±0.01
0.85±0.01
0.66±0.01 7
Eu, ppm
150±18
127±15
180±22

10. Poly-metal resources in Mongolia

11. Introduction of Poly-metal
Located at Dornod Province, Mongolia, in the middle of the cross section between China, Russia and Mongolia and at the center of Derbugan’s international metallogenic belt (Duoemuote mine area) with high grade poly-metal mineralization (Ag, Au, Cu, Mo, Pb, Zn, Sb, U...).
Ulaan deposit
Tsav deposit
Deposit: 6800 Mt
Deposit: 900 Mt
Zn: 2%
Zn: 2.5%
Pb: 1.2%
Pb: 4.1%
Au: 0.21 ppm
Au: 0.25 ppm
Ag: 53 ppm
Ag: ppm

12. Goals To study results of XRF analysis comparison by NAA
To determine elements of major and minor deposit by NAA

13. XRF Methods and Experiment
SPECTRO XEPOS XRF spectrometer
Measuring time was 300 sec.
The results of measurements were processed by X-LabPro 5.1 and AXIL software
with SDD detector (resolution of 155 eV, at 5.9 keV), Peltier cooling, X-ray tube with Pd anode, optimum excitation using polarization and secondary targets.
X-ray tube
Target changer with up to 8 polarization and secondary targets (Mo, Pd, Zr, AlO, Cs, Zn, Co, HoPG )
SDD detection system
Sample tray with samples
REEs reference materials:
TRLK, TRM-2, TRHB and other

14. Some elements contents in Poly-metals ore samples from Ulaan deposit by ED-XRF (±15%)
Samples number x1 x2 x7 x8 x9
x11
x12
x16
x17
x19 Si
21.45
24.81
20.09
23.97
21.92
27.98
24.23
23.84
25.9
23.7 K
4.03
3.72
2.92
3.17
3.25
4.77
3.42
2.89
3.59
2.50 Ca
1.76
1.94
2.01
4.27
2.35
1.04
1.47
2.13
2.25
2.55 Ti
0.042
0.055
0.059
0.068
0.058
0.079
0.048
0.072 Mn
0.234
0.243
0.455
0.468
0.584
0.300
0.276
0.436
0.530
0.486 Fe
4.38
4.33
5.63
6.33
8.21
3.94
4.59
4.64
6.11
7.32 Cu
0.186
0.237
0.214
0.188
0.113
0.165
0.206
0.281
1.526 Zn
5.21
2.41
6.65
1.91
2.65
1.19
3.73
1.00
1.61 As
0.207
0.120
0.103
0.170
0.094
0.154
0.034
0.037 Rb
0.0167
0.0142
0.0149
0.0185
0.0178
0.0231
0.0150
0.0125
0.0215
0.0134 Sr
0.0077
0.0091
0.0163
0.0279
0.0173
0.0078
0.0103
0.0168
0.0181
0.0186 Y
< DL
0.0021
0.0013
0.0008
0.0018
0.0009
0.0003 Zr
0.0370
0.0418
0.0472
0.0493
0.0401
0.0567
0.0432
0.0461
0.0532
0.0402 Ba
0.0579
0.0387
0.0465
0.0425
0.0469
0.0535
0.0482
0.0292
0.0627
0.0381 La
0.0093
0.0062
0.0024
0.0057
0.0073
0.0071
0.0033
0.0016 Ce
0.0089
0.0157
0.0316
0.0144
0.0129
0.0220
0.0082
0.0199
0.0092 Nd
0.0136
0.0059
0.0028
0.0045
0.0056
0.0096 Pb
1.92
2.27
2.05
0.64
0.82
0.59
2.46
3.26
0.91
0.78 Th
0.0022
0.0007
0.0019
0.0026
0.0037
0.0032

15. Some elements contents in Poly-metals ore samples from Ulaan deposit by ED-XRF (±15%)
Samples number x3 x4 x5 x6
x10
x13
x14
x15
x18
x20 Si
12.6
31.1
25.2
9.64
9.44
8.14
22.8
19.5
11.2
11.7 K
1.16
1.93
1.48
0.86
0.84
0.66
1.39
1.09
0.29
0.47 Ca
1.94
1.06
1.11
1.86
1.82
1.52
0.99
1.84
5.16
4.33 Ti
0.054
0.092
0.14
0.044
0.046
0.061
0.11
0.13
0.064
0.07 Mn
0.342
0.222
0.178
0.335
0.347
0.331
0.234
0.258
0.729
0.665 Fe 11
9.28
9.51
10.3
10.6
8.16
9.85
12.2
18.7
20.4 Cu
0.691
0.732
0.365
0.831
0.958
0.612
0.392
0.167
0.432 Zn
4.16
0.98
3.75
3.79
3.73
2.36
2.14
2.24 As
0.086
0.251
0.0136
0.063
0.074
0.065
0.111
0.095
0.101
0.207 Rb
0.084
0.0242
0.213
0.058
0.056
0.042
0.127
0.024
0.041 Sr
0.036
0.06
0.031
0.014
0.0026 Y
0.0031
0.0041
0.0022
0.0021
0.0018
0.0037
0.0033 Zr
0.0238
0.0317
0.0311
0.0241
0.0228
0.0235
0.0303
0.0329
0.0281
0.0283 Ba
0.0313
0.0172
0.0273
0.0384
0.0373
0.0368
0.0287
0.0411
0.0176
0.0247 La
0.09
0.091
0.097
0.12
0.17
0.18 Ce
0.094
0.051
0.107
0.114
0.133
0.155 Nd
0.0162
0.0069
0.0045
0.0046
0.0034
0.0009
0.0054
0.0155 Pb
0.91
0.65
1.05
1.08
1.13
0.92
1.07
0.75 Th
0.0087
0.0047
0.0065
0.0064
0.0013
0.0091
0.0086

16. NAA Methods and Experiment
In the case of activation analysis (AA), the neutron and gamma flux from Electron Accelerator MT-25 at JINR was used. Energy of the accelerated electrons is 25 MeV and average current is 14µA.
Flux of gamma rays= 1014 sec-1
The density of the thermal neutron flux= 109 n/cm2×sec
Measurement condition
Characteristics of Poly-Metal samples
Mass of sample
≈4 g
Excited time
6 hours
Waited time
2, 20, 80 hours
Measured time
300, 900, 1800 sec
CRM
СНК-2, ПИЭН611, SL-1
Measurement results of activation analysis were processed by the Canberra S100, FitzPeaks Gamma Analysis and MS EXCEL software programs

17. Some elements contents in Poly-metals ore samples from Ulaan deposit by NAA
Samples number x3 x9
x10
x12
x19
Na, ppm
1797±533
1643±538
1693±526
2962±553
2090±534
K, %
2.61±0.51
2.47±0.68
2.83±0.70
3.53±0.69
1.61±0.60
Sc, ppm
14.4±1.7
30.1±2.8
24.0±1.9
17.7±2.1
15.3±1.7
Mn, %
0.394±0.058
0.624±0.062
0.425±0.61
0.290±0.059
0.392±0.058
Fe, %
5.50±0.33
9.54±0.42
6.56±0.38
4.70±0.47
7.51±0.37
Co, ppm
218±15
214±16
312±18
62±12
30±9
Zn, %
2.56±0.01
1.890±0.097
3.04±0.012
1.86±0.097
0.973±0.0164
Ga, ppm
16.1±1.3
24.6±1.6
12.6±1.4
9.3±0.9
19.6±1.4
As, ppm
3615±27
5681±79
5156±54
3850±33
936±14
Sn, ppm
0.33±0.02
0.85±0.02
0.05±0.01
0.11±0.02
0.87±0.02
Sb, ppm
29.3±2.6
19.0±1.8
47.5±3.0
50.2±3.6
52.2±3.4
Ba, ppm
43±5
118±8
60±15
64±12
312±16
La, ppm
85.0±1.2
114.3±0.8
115.4±1.3
107.4±0.9
59.2±1.4
Eu, ppm
0.60±0.08
0.20±0.05
0.10±0.03
0.40±0.05
0.08±0.02
W, ppm
50.2±2.6
12.9±1.4
53.5±3.2
14.4±1.0
19.5±1.3
Au, ppm
0.72±0.03
1.00±0.04
0.69±0.03
0.06±0.01
U, ppm
301±3
473±6
177±5
231±5
487±8

18. The comparison of the XRF results obtained for the sample (x9, x19) with the NAA and CGL

19. Air pollution in Ulaanbaatar

20. Results of the air samples collected during 2008-2015 at the NRC, NUM
Sample collection and analytical methods
Duration: 2009 June – 2016 Dec
Height of sampling: 3m
Sampling frequency: Twice a week
Sampler: GENT Sampler with Polycarbonate filters
Flow rate of sampler: 16 l/мin (18-14)
ВС measurement: M43D Digital Smoke Stain Reflectometer
Аir Quality Index
Air Quality Index Value
0 ~ 50
Clean
51 ~ 100
Normal
101 ~ 250
Slightly Polluted
251 ~ 400
Polluted
401 ~ 500
Heavily Polluted
501 ~
Seriously Polluted

21. Statistics for PM2.5 , PM10-2.5 and elemental concentrations at NRC site
Average
Max
Min
Std/DeV
PM2.5
2721.1 Na
2126.8
8480.7
111.0
1411.3 Mg
944.6
4794.2
221.0
569.1 Al
274.0
2051.1
27.0
222.3 Si
667.2
5582.1
30.2
573.0 P
280.6
3196.1
86.7
212.0 S
2994.6
46.0
3784.8 Cl
222.8
1454.0
30.3
170.0 K
409.4
3294.0
30.5
305.8 Ca
728.9
6886.2
27.7
613.8 Ti
167.7
1621.9
49.9
109.1 Mn
63.8
589.1
11.0
41.0 Fe
547.9
4747.9
70.6
417.8 Ni
44.6
367.3
6.3
33.3 Cu
14.0
132.6
5.1
13.8 Zn
47.0
281.5
7.8
35.7 Pb
45.7
558.2
11.5
52.9 BC
6160.4
1003.3
5020.2
Average
Max
Min
Std/DeV
PM10-2.5
4668.5 Na
6109.1
205.6
4246.3 Mg
3825.7
243.1
2675.6 Al
1725.2
6571.1
29.5
1354.2 Si
4838.3
68.9
3824.5 P
377.3
3248.6
99.8
231.5 S
1987.1
18.6
1919.2 Cl
663.4
4368.1
93.7
514.1 K
3260.4
54.1
2719.5 Ca
5701.6
149.1
3997.1 Ti
530.1
1769.5
70.7
344.7 V
17.5
41.3
9.9
5.7 Cr
23.5
56.4
8.1
9.5 Mn
160.3
691.7
27.4
93.6 Fe
4453.1
127.2
3479.8 Ni
44.9
329.0
6.7
34.6 Cu
114.5
5.0
16.2 Zn
65.1
248.1
10.0
38.8 Pb
46.0
935.5
5.9
84.8 BC
3335.4
188.9
2103.6

22. Bio-monitoring technique by NAA
The moss bio-monitoring technique was applied to air pollution study in the city of Ulaanbaatar.
Sampling:
The samples of the terrestrial mosses Rhytidium rugosum and Entodon concinnus were collected in the southern part of the city in September 2015 in accordance with the sampling strategy of the UNECE ICP Vegetation moss survey programme.
Methods:
INAA using epithermal neutrons at the IBR- 2M reactor, FLNP, JINR
Atomic absorption spectrometry at Central Geological Laboratory (CGL) of Mongolia
Results:
42 elemental concentrations
Fig. Satellite image of Ulaanbaatar city. 1-built-up area; 2-Ger area; 3-forest; 4-grass; 5-soil; 6-water. The size of the area is 28 km × 20 km.

23. Thank you for kind attention 

24. Assessment of detection limits
Spectrum of SL-1 reference sample
Sample weight: 1.18 g
Irradiation time: 5 hours
Wait time: 12 hours
Measurement time: 1 hours
Cmin= dm = θ∙C∙3∙dS / Sγ

25. Assessment of detection limits
МТ-22 average current ~ 8 μА
Sample weight: 1-10 g
Irradiation time: 5 hours
Measurement: 1 hour
Information La Eu
Content, ppm
52.1 ± 3.1
1.6
Eγ, keV
1596
842 Sγ
710 ± 60
16800 ± 420
Detection limit, ppm
15.6
0.066
Isotopes
Sc-45
Y-89
Gd-158
Tb-159
Dy-156
Er-170
Yb-174
LOD, ~ ppm
100
1000
La-139
Ce-140
Ce-142
Pr-141
Sm-154
Eu-151 10
0.01