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M. J. Heath, BSc PhD CGeol FGS

Geoscience - Environment - Project Management - Training

(Established 1985)

Address: Hillcrest, Church Coombe, Redruth, Cornwall TR16 6RT, United Kingdom.

Tel/fax.: 01209-216647; International: +44 1209 216647.

Higher Education

University of Sheffield, 1970-1973: BSc Special Honours Geology (Upper Second Class).
    First Year subsidiary subjects: Environmental Biology, Geography;
    Second Year subsidiary subject: Zoology;
    Final Year options: Geochemistry, Igneous and Metamorphic Petrology, Marine Geology.
    Awarded Peak District Mines Historical Society Prize, 1971.

University of Exeter, 1978-1982: PhD; thesis entitled 'Uranium in the Dartmoor granite: geochemical and radiogeological investigations in relation to the south west England geothermal anomaly'.

Interest in the possible geothermal energy resource in the area underlain by granite in south west England led to an investigation of the distribution of the major heat-producing element, uranium, within the granite, and of its behaviour in the surface environment. Experience was gained in a variety of geochemical and radiogeological techniques including:

rock/sediment analysis by X-ray fluorescence spectrometry;
water analysis by laser-induced fluorimetry (for uranium), scintillation counting (for radon) and atomic absorption spectrophotometry/flame emission;
investigation of radioelement distribution in the field by gamma ray spectrometry;
investigation of radioelement distribution in thin section by alpha-autoradiography;
radioactive disequilibrium studies by alpha spectrometry following separation of uranium and thorium by ion exchange techniques (at the University of Bath).

The geochemical evolution of the granite was studied with particular reference to uranium and thorium, and the behaviour of these elements during weathering of the rock and in stream elements was investigated. The physical and chemical controls of radioelement concentrations in surface waters were considered, and the surface distribution of uranium and radon was interpreted in terms of both uranium in the underlying rocks and large scale groundwater movement controlled by major fracture systems within the granite; the application of radiometric techniques to groundwater studies was thus also investigated. An interest was also developed in radon in drinking water and in air.

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