Utilizing the k 0 - IAEA program to determine rare earth elements in soil samples from gold-mining areas in Sudan

This study investigates the concentrations and accumulation levels of rare earth elements (REEs) in soil samples collected from gold-mining sites in Sudan in order to study the distribution of REEs and discuss their concentrations around the gold mining areas in Sudan. The presence of REEs was determined through the neutron activation analysis technique. Irradiations have been carried out using the pneumatic tube system (PTS) and rotary specimen rack (RSR) facilities of the Moroccan TRIGA Mark II research reactor. Measurements were made using a well-calibrated HP-Ge detector for energy and efficiency, while SRM–NIST 2586 was used as a reference material to ensure the quality of the obtained results.