Are geological media homogeneous or heterogeneous for neutron investigations?

The thermal neutron absorption cross section of a heterogeneous material is lower than that of the corresponding homogeneous one which contains the same components. When rock materials are investigated the sample usually contains grains which create heterogeneity. The heterogeneity effect depends on the mass contribution of highly and low-absorbing centers, on the ratio of their absorption cross sections, and on their sizes. An influence of the granulation of silicon and diabase samples on the absorption cross section measured with Czubek's method has been experimentally investigated. A 20% underestimation of the absorption cross section has been observed for diabase grains of sizes from 6.3 to 12.8 mm.