Soil radon concentration along fault systems in parts of south eastern Ghana

Abstract

Radon gas emission from soils in parts of southeastern Ghana (Accra) have been measured to find a possible correlation of the gas emanation with faults and seismic activity in the area. LR-115 alpha track sensitive plastics were used for the detection of the gas at 47 sampling points within a 500 m × 500 m spaced grid. The obtained radon data was analyzed and superimposed on the geological and structural map to highlight the correlation between the gas emission and seismicity. In the highly faulted area, radon activity up to 115.00 kBq m-3 was measured; on the contrary in non-faulted areas radon activity was less than 20.00 kBq m-3. In the highly faulted area radon activity above 50.00 kBq m-3 have been considered anomalous. The background level increased to 115.00 kBq m-3 before a magnitude 1.5 earthquake struck the area. © 2007 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.