Factorial kriging for estimating and mapping the geochemical background from in situ gamma dose rate measurements downstream of a former uranium mine

A geostatistical approach is applied for extracting the geochemical background from gamma dose rate data acquired downstream of a former French uranium mining area. The exploratory analysis shows that spatial structure consists two components: short isotropic component (10 m-range) corresponds to background; and long anisotropic (30–60 drainage network features previously fed by mine discharge water. on whole area interest was estimated simulated (to deal with uncertainties) through kriging measured values. related then extracted factorial kriging. proportion explained according consistent within uncertainties analyses performed soil sediment samples. This study thus highlights potential such approaches better exploiting radiometric data.