Geoscience Reference
In-Depth Information
Table 7.1
Typical concentrations of radioactive elements and heat production of some rock types
Average
continental
upper crust
Average
continental
crust
Average
oceanic
crust
Tholeiitic
basalt
Alkali
basalt
Undepleted
mantle
Granite
Peridotite
Concentration by weight
U (ppm)
4
0.1
0.8
0.006
2.8
1.1
0.9
0.02
Th (ppm)
15
0.4
2.5
0.04
10.7
4.2
2.7
0.10
K (%)
3.5
0.2
1.2
0.01
3.4
1.3
0.4
0.04
Heat generation (10
−10
Wkg
−1
)
U
3.9
0.1
0.8
0.006
2.8
1.1
0.9
0.02
Th
4.1
0.1
0.7
0.010
3.0
1.2
0.7
0.03
K
1.3
0.1
0.4
0.004
1.2
0.5
0.1
0.007
Total
9.3
0.3
1.9
0.020
7.0
2.7
1.7
0.057
Density (10
3
kg m
−3
)
2.7
2.8
2.7
3.2
2.7
2.7
2.9
3.2
Heat generation
(Wm
−3
)
2.5
0.08
0.5
0.006
1.8
0.7
0.5
0.02
