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Title: Uranium mineralization in southern Victoria Land, Antarctica

Abstract

For the past 10 antarctic field seasons, an airborne gamma-ray spectrometric survey has been conducted over widely separated parts of the continent. Localized accumulations of both primary and secondary uranium minerals have been discovered at several localities scattered along the Transantarctic Mountains from the Scott Glacier to northern Victoria Land. A number of highly significant radiation anomalies have been discovered in the area between the Koettlitz Glacier and the Pyramid Trough. The occurrences consist of pegmatite vein complexes which contain an association of primary uranium and thorium minerals. Of still greater significance is the fact that abundant secondary uranium minerals were found in association with the primary deposits, and they indicate clearly that uranium is geochemically mobile under the conditions imposed by the arid polar climate that now exists in southern Victoria Land. Preliminary results of a uranium analysis performed by neutron activation indicate a concentration of 0.12% uranium in a composite sample from the two veins. Even higher levels of thorium are present. The nature of the primary uranium mineralization is currently under investigation. Preliminary results are discussed.

Authors:
;
Publication Date:
Research Org.:
Univ. of Kansas, Lawrence (USA)
OSTI Identifier:
7180444
Resource Type:
Journal Article
Journal Name:
Antarct. J. U.S.; (United States)
Additional Journal Information:
Journal Volume: 21:5
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English
Subject:
11 NUCLEAR FUEL CYCLE AND FUEL MATERIALS; ANTARCTICA; RADIOMETRIC SURVEYS; URANIUM; MINERALIZATION; ACTIVATION ANALYSIS; EXPLORATION; GAMMA SPECTROSCOPY; GEOCHEMISTRY; GEOLOGIC DEPOSITS; GEOLOGIC HISTORY; NEUTRON REACTIONS; PROSPECTING; REMOTE SENSING; THORIUM; URANIUM DEPOSITS; ACTINIDES; ANTARCTIC REGIONS; BARYON REACTIONS; CHEMICAL ANALYSIS; CHEMISTRY; ELEMENTS; GEOPHYSICAL SURVEYS; HADRON REACTIONS; METALS; MINERAL RESOURCES; NUCLEAR REACTIONS; NUCLEON REACTIONS; POLAR REGIONS; RESOURCES; SPECTROSCOPY; SURVEYS; 050100* - Nuclear Fuels- Reserves, Exploration, & Mining

Citation Formats

Dreschhoff, G A.M., and Zeller, E J. Uranium mineralization in southern Victoria Land, Antarctica. United States: N. p., 1986. Web.
Dreschhoff, G A.M., & Zeller, E J. Uranium mineralization in southern Victoria Land, Antarctica. United States.
Dreschhoff, G A.M., and Zeller, E J. 1986. "Uranium mineralization in southern Victoria Land, Antarctica". United States.
@article{osti_7180444,
title = {Uranium mineralization in southern Victoria Land, Antarctica},
author = {Dreschhoff, G A.M. and Zeller, E J},
abstractNote = {For the past 10 antarctic field seasons, an airborne gamma-ray spectrometric survey has been conducted over widely separated parts of the continent. Localized accumulations of both primary and secondary uranium minerals have been discovered at several localities scattered along the Transantarctic Mountains from the Scott Glacier to northern Victoria Land. A number of highly significant radiation anomalies have been discovered in the area between the Koettlitz Glacier and the Pyramid Trough. The occurrences consist of pegmatite vein complexes which contain an association of primary uranium and thorium minerals. Of still greater significance is the fact that abundant secondary uranium minerals were found in association with the primary deposits, and they indicate clearly that uranium is geochemically mobile under the conditions imposed by the arid polar climate that now exists in southern Victoria Land. Preliminary results of a uranium analysis performed by neutron activation indicate a concentration of 0.12% uranium in a composite sample from the two veins. Even higher levels of thorium are present. The nature of the primary uranium mineralization is currently under investigation. Preliminary results are discussed.},
doi = {},
url = {https://www.osti.gov/biblio/7180444}, journal = {Antarct. J. U.S.; (United States)},
number = ,
volume = 21:5,
place = {United States},
year = {Wed Jan 01 00:00:00 EST 1986},
month = {Wed Jan 01 00:00:00 EST 1986}
}