Neutron activation analysis of geological and biological samples using short-term reactor irradiation and successive counting

Short-term reactor irradiation followed by successive counting over long periods has been used for the nondestructive determination of more the 20 elements in geological and biological samples. The samples, along with USGS standards and NBS SRMs, were irradiated for 5 m, 10 m, 15 m, 1 h, 2.5 h, and 10 h, followed by counting on a Ge/Li/ gamma-ray spectrometer. The technique has been employed for the determination of several major, minor, and trace constituents in geological, biological and environmental samples.