Determination of Elemental Composition in Geochemical Exploration Using a 14-MeV Neutron Generator Ii. Theoretical Aspects

A method for determining elemental compositions from neutron-induced gamma-ray spectra has been developed. The method consists of calculating the neutron flux by solving the Boltzmann neutron transport equation and then calculating the flux of gamma-ray that escape from the irradiated material per unit mass fraction of a given element. The procedure was utilized to analyze data obtained from a 14-MeV neutron experiment. Relative abundances for the following major elements were obtained: H, Al, Si, K, Ca, Ti and Fe. The results agree well with the results of an independent x-ray flourescence determination of material's composition.