New data on the Hyrkkoelae native copper mineralization: A natural analogue for the long-term corrosion of copper canisters
The Hyrkkoelae U-Cu mineralization located in southwestern Finland is reassessed with reference to the corrosion mechanisms affecting the stability of native copper and the time-scales of corrosion processes. The mineral assemblage native copper--copper sulfide occurs in open fractures at several depth intervals within granite pegmatites (GP). The surfaces of these open fractures have accumulations of uranophane crystals and other unidentified uranyl compounds. The secondary uranium minerals are mainly distributed around copper sulfide grains. Microscopic intergrowths of copper sulfides and uranyl compounds also have been observed. Groundwater samples were collected from the vicinity of the Cu samples. The hydrogeochemical features of these samples indicate that the present conditions are oxidizing. The minimum age of U(VI) transport and deposition is about 200,000 years. This age is indicated by {sup 234}U/{sup 238}U and {sup 230}Th/{sup 234}U activity ratios of uranophane. The age of the hexavalent uranium precipitation may be somewhat later than the last influxes and/or demobilization of sulfur. The mineral assemblage native copper--copper oxide (cuprite) occurs only at one depth interval within altered granite pegmatite. The fracture surface was coated by smectite. The content of uranium in smectite was 69--75 ppm U. The {sup 234}U/{sup 238}U and {sup 230}Th/{sup 234}U activity ratios of smectite showed that it has been exposed to recent groundwaters (e.g., during the last million years). The pH of the groundwater at this interval was near neutral (6.9). The copper grains present at this fracture surface were as large as 1 mm in diameter and had rims of cuprite of 0.01 to 0.1 mm thick. The smallest grains were totally oxidized.
- Research Organization:
- Helsinki Univ. of Technology, HUT (FI)
- Sponsoring Organization:
- Posiva Oy (Finland); Swedish Nuclear Fuel and Waste Management Company
- OSTI ID:
- 20015836
- Resource Relation:
- Conference: 1998 Materials Research Society Fall Meeting, Boston, MA (US), 11/30/1998--12/04/1998; Other Information: Single article reprints are available from University Microfilms Inc., 300 North Zeeb Road, Ann Arbor, Michigan 48106; PBD: 1999; Related Information: In: Scientific basis for nuclear waste management XXII. Materials Research Society symposium proceedings: Volume 556, by Wronkiewicz, D.J.; Lee, J.H. [eds.], 1355 pages.
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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