Abstract

• The iron concentration in iron ore samples have been observed by means of the instrumental neutron activation analysis technique. In NAA method, the samples were activated by isotope Am Be (α, n) sealed neutron source. The strength of it is 550 mCi, with an average neutron energy of around 3 MeV, and a half-life of 432 years. After irradiation, the gamma-ray spectra of the samples were collected and analyzed using NaI (Tl) scintillation spectrometer. By NAA method, the iron content of hematite is 65.91%, limonite is 14.24%, and standard iron is 99.12%. NAA method is excellent to detect the mass concentration of iron in the samples.Iron raw materials, especially in small sizes, can be easily detected by NAA to ascertain their authenticity and iron content.