Feasibility Study of Utilizing Basalt Rocks as a Radiation Shielding Material

Authors

Essam Banoqitah, King Abdulaziz University, Faculty of Engineering, Department of Nuclear Engineering, P.O. Box 80204, Jeddah, 21589, Saudi ArabiaFollow

Abstract

This study investigates the potential of basalt rock from the Harrat Rahat region in Saudi Arabia as a natural shield against gamma/X-ray radiation. Its composition and structure were examined using SEM and EDAX, and its gamma-ray shielding ability was tested through lab experiments and GATE-based simulations up to 1.3 MeV. The results showed that basalt is quite effective at attenuation low- to medium-energy gamma rays, with performance dropping at higher energies. Despite not matching the strength of specialized shielding materials, basalt's availability, density, and reliable performance at lower energies make it a practical and accessible option for moderate radiation protection.

First Page

173

Last Page

179

Recommended Citation

Banoqitah, Essam (2025) "Feasibility Study of Utilizing Basalt Rocks as a Radiation Shielding Material," Journal of King Abdulaziz University: Engineering Sciences: Vol. 35: Iss. 2, Article 6.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.64064/1658-4260.1015

Creative Commons License

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.