Abstract
Neutron emission measurements were carried out by means of a He3 detector on Carrara marble specimens under compression. While granite generated neutrons − due to piezonuclear reactions involving fission of iron into aluminum – this phenomenon did not appear in marble crushing tests. On the other hand, significant alpha particle fluctuations were detected by a 6150 AD-k probe during the same compression tests.
The external and fracture surfaces belonging to Carrara marble specimens crushed during the compression tests were analyzed by X-ray Photoelectron Spectroscopy (XPS). Such quantitative compositional analyses were carried out in order to detect any variation in Carrara marble chemical composition due to brittle failure. A total decrement in Ca, Mg, and O by 13 % as well as an equivalent increment in C were observed on the fracture surface with respect to the external surface. The assumed transmutations involve elements with an equal number of protons and neutrons. For this reason, the micro-chemical analyses suggest piezonuclear reactions accompanied by alpha particle emissions, but without neutron emissions, in the crushing experiments on marble specimens.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Access this chapter
Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout
Purchases are for personal use only
References
Carpinteri A, Cardone F, Lacidogna G (2010) Energy emissions from failure phenomena: mechanical, electromagnetic, nuclear. Exp Mech 50:1235–1243
Carpinteri A, Borla O, Lacidogna G, Manuello A (2010) Neutron emissions in brittle rocks during compression tests: monotonic vs cyclic loading. Phys Mesomech 13:268–274
Carpinteri A, Lacidogna G, Manuello A, Borla O (2011) Energy emissions from brittle fracture: neutron measurements and geological evidences of piezonuclear reactions. Strenght Fract Complex 7:13–31
Albertini G, Calbucci V, Cardone F, Fattorini G, Magnani R, Petrucci A, Ridolfi F, Rotili A (2013) Evidence of alpha emission from compressed steel bars. Int J Mod Phys B 27(23):1350124
Widom A, Swain J, Srivastava YN (2013) Neutron production from the fracture of piezoelectric rocks. J Phys G Nucl Part Phys 40:015006 (1–8)
Widom A, Swain J, Srivastava YN (2015) Photo-disintegration of the iron nucleus in fractured magnetite rocks with magnetostriction. Meccanica 50:1205–1216. doi:10.1007/s11012-014-0007-x
Bubble Technology Industries (1992) Instruction manual for the bubble detector. Bubble Technology Industries, Ontario
National Council on Radiation Protection and Measurements (1971) Protection against neutron radiation, NCRP Report 38
Cardone F, Cherubini G, Petrucci A (2009) Piezonuclear neutrons. Phys Lett A 373:862–866
Cardone F, Mignani R, Petrucci A (2009) Piezonuclear decay of thorium. Phys Lett A 373:1956–1958
Carpinteri A, Lacidogna G, Manuello A, Borla O (2013) Piezonuclear fission reactions from earthquakes and brittle rocks failure: evidence of neutron emission and non-radioactive product elements. Exp Mech 53:345–365
Ni M, Ratner BD (2008) Differentiating calcium carbonate polymorphs by surface analysis techniques – an XPS and TOF-SIMS study. Surf Interface Anal 40:1356–1361
Postendörfer J, Butterweck G, Reineking A (1994) Daily variation of the radon concentration indoors and outdoors and the influence of meteorological parameters. Health Phys 67:283–287
Mosier-Boss PA et al (2007) Use of CR-39 in Pd/D co-deposition experiments. Eur Phys J Appl Phys 40:293–303
Mosier-Boss PA et al (2010) Comparison of Pd/D co-deposition and DT neutron generated triple tracks observed in CR-39 detectors. Eur Phys J Appl Phys 51:20901–20911
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Editor information
Editors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
Copyright information
© 2015 Springer International Publishing Switzerland
About this chapter
Cite this chapter
Carpinteri, A., Lacidogna, G., Borla, O. (2015). Alpha Particle Emissions from Carrara Marble Specimens Crushed in Compression and X-ray Photoelectron Spectroscopy of Correlated Nuclear Transmutations. In: Carpinteri, A., Lacidogna, G., Manuello, A. (eds) Acoustic, Electromagnetic, Neutron Emissions from Fracture and Earthquakes. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-16955-2_5
Download citation
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-16955-2_5
Publisher Name: Springer, Cham
Print ISBN: 978-3-319-16954-5
Online ISBN: 978-3-319-16955-2
eBook Packages: EngineeringEngineering (R0)