Abstract: A method of testing an earth sample and an apparatus for executing the method are disclosed herein. The method includes the steps of obtaining at least one earth sample. The method also includes the steps of detecting one or more counts of decay from the at least one earth sample. The detected count is at at least one level of radiation decay energy from among a plurality of possible levels of radiation decay energy associated with decay daughters of Radium 226 and/or 228. The method also includes the steps of deriving a level of radiation emission activity of the at least one earth sample based on the one or more counts of decay detected in said detecting step.