Determination of Fluorine in Tea, Bones and Rocks Through the 19F(p,αγ) 16O Reaction Using a Cyclotron

The amount of fluorine present in various types of tea leaves, basaltic volcanic rocks and rabbit bones has been determined by observing the 6.13 MeV gammas from the reaction 19F(p, αγ)16O using thick targets and 5 MeV protons from the Melbourne University Cyclotron. The fluorine contents in tea leaves from Darjeeling, Ceylon and Queensland have been determined to be 135 ± 5 p. p. m., 75 ± 5 p. p. m. and 60 ± 7 p. p. m. respectively. The volcanic rock sample TB4 is found to contain 295 ± 20 p. p. m. of fluorine. The bones of the fully grown up rabbits who were fed with fluoridated water (120 p. p. m.) for a period of 3 months show as much as 950 ± 50 p. p. m. of fluorine.