Recording High Natural Gamma Radiations in Fluoride-Prone Area of Shivpuri District, Madhya Pradesh

The occurrence of fluoride in groundwater is a major issue for aquifer-based drinking water supply. Many parts in state of Madhya Pradesh exhibit elevated fluoride content in groundwater. Present study has been conducted in Shivpuri district, underlain by granite and gneiss with some patches of recent alluvium. Ten boreholes have been drilled, and out of them, seven boreholes have been logged geophysically for natural gamma count. Chemical analyses of groundwater samples from the drilled wells have maximum fluoride content up to 5 mg/L. The natural gamma loggings conducted into the boreholes down to the depth of 200 mbgl have recorded 100–1600 cps for various lithological units encountered into the boreholes. It has been observed that water-rich fractures encountered in some of the boreholes with higher fluoride concentration is also showing higher range of natural gamma counts. Fluorite as a mineral in granites is considered as marker horizons for prospecting of radioactive minerals. Fluorite-bearing rocks releases fluoride in groundwater as well as related to high natural gamma radiation in the study area. The paper address geogenic groundwater quality problem of fluoride, associated with radioactive radiations in parts of Shivpuri district, Madhya Pradesh.