The nature of radiohaloes in biotite: Experimental studies and modeling

Several micro-techniques (confocal laser-Raman microprobe, optical absorption micro-spectroscopy, high-resolution transmission electron microscopy, electron microprobe analysis) were employed in the detailed characterization of radiohaloes in biotites from two Variscan rocks from Germany. The studied biotites are intermediate members of the phlogopite-annite series with Mg/Fe 2+ ratios in the range 1.6–1.0. Radiohaloes in biotite resulted from the impact of 4 He cores (α-particles) emitted from actinide-bearing inclusions. Monte Carlo simulations yielded α ( 238 U, 235 U, and 232 Th series) penetration ranges in biotite between 12.5 and 37.3 μm, which are in reasonable agreement with the ob…