Chemical and Sr isotopic characterization of North America uranium ores: Nuclear forensic applications

Balboni, Enrica; Jones, Nina; Spano, Tyler; Simonetti, Antonio; Burns, Peter C.

doi:10.1016/j.apgeochem.2016.08.016

Chemical and Sr isotopic characterization of North America uranium ores: Nuclear forensic applications

Journal Article · Wed Aug 31 00:00:00 EDT 2016 · Applied Geochemistry

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1016/j.apgeochem.2016.08.016· OSTI ID:1331456

Balboni, Enrica ^[1]; Jones, Nina ^[2]; ^[2]; Simonetti, Antonio ^[2]; Burns, Peter C. ^[2]

Univ. of Notre Dame, Notre Dame, IN (United States); Lawrence Livermore National Lab. (LLNL), Livermore, CA (United States)
Univ. of Notre Dame, Notre Dame, IN (United States)

This study reports major, minor, and trace element data and Sr isotope ratios for 11 uranium ore (uraninite, UO_2+x) samples and one processed uranium ore concentrate (UOC) from various U.S. deposits. The uraninite investigated represent ores formed via different modes of mineralization (e.g., high- and low-temperature) and within various geological contexts, which include magmatic pegmatites, metamorphic rocks, sandstone-hosted, and roll front deposits. In situ trace element data obtained by laser ablation-ICP-MS and bulk sample Sr isotopic ratios for uraninite samples investigated here indicate distinct signatures that are highly dependent on the mode of mineralization and host rock geology. Relative to their high-temperature counterparts, low-temperature uranium ores record high U/Th ratios (>1000), low total rare earth element (REE) abundances (<1 wt%), high contents (>300 ppm) of first row transition metals (Sc, Ti, V, Cr, Mn, Co, Ni), and radiogenic ⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr ratios (>0.7200). Comparison of chondrite normalized REE patterns between uraninite and corresponding processed UOC from the same locality indicates identical patterns at different absolute concentrations. Lastly, this result ultimately confirms the importance of establishing geochemical signatures of raw, uranium ore materials for attribution purposes in the forensic analysis of intercepted nuclear materials.

View Accepted Manuscript (DOE)

Research Organization:: Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (LLNL), Livermore, CA (United States)

Sponsoring Organization:: USDOE

Grant/Contract Number:: AC52-07NA27344

OSTI ID:: 1331456

Alternate ID(s):: OSTI ID: 1396611

Report Number(s):: LLNL-JRNL--702080

Journal Information:: Applied Geochemistry, Journal Name: Applied Geochemistry Journal Issue: C Vol. 74; ISSN 0883-2927

Publisher:: ElsevierCopyright Statement

Country of Publication:: United States

Language:: English

References (24)

Strontium isotope ( ⁸⁷ Sr/ ⁸⁶ Sr) variability in the Nile Valley: Identifying residential mobility during ancient Egyptian and Nubian sociopolitical changes in the New Kingdom and Napatan periods: Strontium Isotope Variability in the Nile Valley Buzon, Michele R.; Simonetti, Antonio American Journal of Physical Anthropology, Vol. 151, Issue 1 https://doi.org/10.1002/ajpa.22235	journal	February 2013
Investigation of the sample characteristics needed for the determination of the origin of uranium-bearing materials Švedkauskaitė-LeGore, J.; Rasmussen, G.; Abousahl, S. Journal of Radioanalytical and Nuclear Chemistry, Vol. 278, Issue 1 https://doi.org/10.1007/s10967-007-7215-y	journal	June 2008
ICP-MS — A powerful tool for high-precision trace-element analysis in Earth sciences: Evidence from analysis of selected U.S.G.S. reference samples Jenner, G. A.; Longerich, H. P.; Jackson, S. E. Chemical Geology, Vol. 83, Issue 1-2 https://doi.org/10.1016/0009-2541(90)90145-W	journal	June 1990
Geochemistry and origin of formation brines from the Paris Basin, France Fontes, J. Ch.; Matray, J. M. Chemical Geology, Vol. 109, Issue 1-4 https://doi.org/10.1016/0009-2541(93)90068-T	journal	October 1993
Structural formula of uraninite Janeczek, J.; Ewing, R. C. Journal of Nuclear Materials, Vol. 190 https://doi.org/10.1016/0022-3115(92)90082-V	journal	August 1992
Mobility of Bell Beaker people revealed by strontium isotope ratios of tooth and bone: a study of southern Bavarian skeletal remains Grupe, Gisela; Price, T. Douglas; Schröter, Peter Applied Geochemistry, Vol. 12, Issue 4 https://doi.org/10.1016/S0883-2927(97)00030-9	journal	July 1997
Isotopic “fingerprints” for natural uranium ore samples Richter, S.; Alonso, A.; De Bolle, W. International Journal of Mass Spectrometry, Vol. 193, Issue 1 https://doi.org/10.1016/S1387-3806(99)00102-5	journal	October 1999
The provenance of Australian uranium ore concentrates by elemental and isotopic analysis Keegan, Elizabeth; Richter, Stephan; Kelly, Ian Applied Geochemistry, Vol. 23, Issue 4 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.apgeochem.2007.12.004	journal	April 2008
Attribution of uranium ore concentrates using elemental and anionic data Keegan, Elizabeth; Wallenius, Maria; Mayer, Klaus Applied Geochemistry, Vol. 27, Issue 8 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.apgeochem.2012.05.009	journal	August 2012
Uraninite chemistry as forensic tool for provenance analysis Frimmel, Hartwig E.; Schedel, Sibylle; Brätz, Helene Applied Geochemistry, Vol. 48 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.apgeochem.2014.07.013	journal	September 2014
In-situ determination of major and trace elements in calcite and apatite, and U–Pb ages of apatite from the Oka carbonatite complex: Insights into a complex crystallization history Chen, Wei; Simonetti, Antonio Chemical Geology, Vol. 353 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.chemgeo.2012.04.022	journal	August 2013
Nuclear forensic investigations: Two case studies Wallenius, M.; Mayer, K.; Ray, I. Forensic Science International, Vol. 156, Issue 1 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.forsciint.2004.12.029	journal	January 2006
Fate of trace elements during alteration of uraninite in a hydrothermal vein-type U-deposit from Marshall Pass, Colorado, USA Deditius, Artur P.; Utsunomiya, Satoshi; Ewing, Rodney C. Geochimica et Cosmochimica Acta, Vol. 71, Issue 20 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.gca.2007.08.008	journal	October 2007
Nuclear forensic science—From cradle to maturity Mayer, K.; Wallenius, M.; Fanghänel, T. Journal of Alloys and Compounds, Vol. 444-445 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jallcom.2007.01.164	journal	October 2007
Migration in the Nile Valley during the New Kingdom period: a preliminary strontium isotope study Buzon, Michele R.; Simonetti, Antonio; Creaser, Robert A. Journal of Archaeological Science, Vol. 34, Issue 9 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jas.2006.10.029	journal	September 2007
An investigation into heterogeneity in a single vein-type uranium ore deposit: Implications for nuclear forensics Keatley, A. C.; Scott, T. B.; Davis, S. Journal of Environmental Radioactivity, Vol. 150 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jenvrad.2015.06.016	journal	December 2015
Determination of rare-earth elements in uranium-bearing materials by inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry Varga, Zsolt; Katona, Róbert; Stefánka, Zsolt Talanta, Vol. 80, Issue 5 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.talanta.2009.10.018	journal	March 2010
Application of Lead and Strontium Isotope Ratio Measurements for the Origin Assessment of Uranium Ore Concentrates Varga, Zsolt; Wallenius, Maria; Mayer, Klaus Analytical Chemistry, Vol. 81, Issue 20 https://doi.org/10.1021/ac901100e	journal	October 2009
Source-area determination of elephant ivory by isotopic analysis van der Merwe, N. J.; Lee-Thorp, J. A.; Thackeray, J. F. Nature, Vol. 346, Issue 6286 https://doi.org/10.1038/346744a0	journal	August 1990
Nuclear forensics—a methodology providing clues on the origin of illicitly trafficked nuclear materials Mayer, Klaus; Wallenius, Maria; Ray, Ian The Analyst, Vol. 130, Issue 4 https://doi.org/10.1039/B412922A	journal	January 2005
Measurement of the sulphur isotope ratio (34S/32S) in uranium ore concentrates (yellow cakes) for origin assessment Han, Sun-Ho; Varga, Zsolt; Krajkó, Judit Journal of Analytical Atomic Spectrometry, Vol. 28, Issue 12 https://doi.org/10.1039/c3ja50231g	journal	January 2013
Origin of uranium deposits revealed by their rare earth element signature: Origin of U deposits revealed by the rare earth elements Mercadier, Julien; Cuney, Michel; Lach, Philippe Terra Nova, Vol. 23, Issue 4 https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1365-3121.2011.01008.x	journal	May 2011
Methodology for Rare Earth Element Determinations of Uranium Oxides by Ion Microprobe Bonhoure, Jessica; Kister, Philippe; Cuney, Michel Geostandards and Geoanalytical Research, Vol. 31, Issue 3 https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1751-908X.2007.00865.x	journal	September 2007
Investigation of the isotopic composition of lead and of trace elements concentrations in natural uranium materials as a signature in nuclear forensics Švedkauskaite-LeGore, J.; Mayer, K.; Millet, S. Radiochimica Acta, Vol. 95, Issue 10 https://doi.org/10.1524/ract.2007.95.10.601	journal	January 2007

Cited By (5)

Determination of lead isotope ratios in uranium mine products in South Africa by means of inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry Mathuthu, Manny; Khumalo, Ntokozo Journal of Radioanalytical and Nuclear Chemistry, Vol. 315, Issue 1 https://doi.org/10.1007/s10967-017-5641-z	journal	December 2017
Characterization of uraninite using a FIB–SEM approach and its implications for LA–ICP–MS analyses Lewis, Stefanie R.; Simonetti, Antonio; Corcoran, Loretta Journal of Radioanalytical and Nuclear Chemistry, Vol. 318, Issue 2 https://doi.org/10.1007/s10967-018-6232-3	journal	October 2018
A novel nuclear forensic tool involving deposit type normalized rare earth element signatures Spano, Tyler L.; Simonetti, Antonio; Wheeler, Thomas Terra Nova, Vol. 29, Issue 5 https://doi.org/10.1111/ter.12275	journal	July 2017
Multivariate Analysis Based on Geochemical, Isotopic, and Mineralogical Compositions of Uranium-Rich Samples Corcoran, Loretta; Simonetti, Antonio; Spano, Tyler L. Minerals, Vol. 9, Issue 9 https://doi.org/10.3390/min9090537	journal	September 2019
Geochronology and Geochemistry of Uraninite and Coffinite: Insights into Ore-Forming Process in the Pegmatite-Hosted Uraniferous Province, North Qinling, Central China Yuan, Feng; Jiang, Shao-Yong; Liu, Jiajun Minerals, Vol. 9, Issue 9 https://doi.org/10.3390/min9090552	journal	September 2019

Similar Records

Rare-earth element fractionation in uranium ore and its U(VI) alteration minerals

Journal Article · Thu Oct 19 20:00:00 EDT 2017 · Applied Geochemistry · OSTI ID:1416495

Samarium isotope compositions of uranium ore concentrates: A novel nuclear forensic signature

Journal Article · Thu Jul 30 20:00:00 EDT 2020 · Talanta · OSTI ID:1668482

Nuclear forensic analysis on uranium ore concentrates: A multi-laboratory intercomparison study

Journal Article · Thu Dec 04 19:00:00 EST 2025 · Journal of Radioanalytical and Nuclear Chemistry · OSTI ID:3012086

Related Subjects

07 ISOTOPE AND RADIATION SOURCES
58 GEOSCIENCES
ICP-MS
strontium isotopes
uranium deposits in the United States
uranium ore concentrate

Chemical and Sr isotopic characterization of North America uranium ores: Nuclear forensic applications

Citation Formats

References (24)

Cited By (5)

Similar Records

Related Subjects