Proof-of-concept measurements of the effects of neutron irradiation on common cathodoluminescent minerals have been made. Using a small cold-cathode cathodoluminescence system designed to be relatively portable, measurements of cathodoluminescence from replicate samples of two main types of common minerals (feldspars and carbonates) were made. The samples were subsequently exposed to varying amounts of neutron irradiation from a research reactor and the cathodoluminescence of replicate samples were measured post-irradiation. From these data, the first observation of the neutron dose-response in calcite has been made. We conclude that this technique shows great promise as a nuclear forensics tool using common geological materials to measure a permanent signature induced from neutron irradiation – at least for calcites and most probably for feldspars. Further work has demonstrated the crystalline lattice size dependence of the cathodoluminescent signature for feldspars which suggests how this technique could be expanded for routine forensic analysis.

Cathodoluminescent signatures of neutron irradiation

249th National Meeting (2015)

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