Exploring the use of thorium isotope compositions and concentrations as nuclear forensic signatures for uranium ore concentrates

Kayzar-Boggs, Theresa M.; Kinman, William Scott; Bostick, Debra A.; Cardon, Annelise Marie Riggins; Foley, Rebecca Rostand; Hexel, Cole R.; King-Lopez, Rachel; Lindvall, Rachel E.; Marks, Naomi; Sharp, Michael A.; Ticknor, Brian W.

doi:10.1007/s10967-020-07534-6

Title: Exploring the use of thorium isotope compositions and concentrations as nuclear forensic signatures for uranium ore concentrates

Journal Article · Mon Jan 25 00:00:00 EST 2021 · Journal of Radioanalytical and Nuclear Chemistry

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1007/s10967-020-07534-6· OSTI ID:1784124

^[1];

^[2]; Bostick, Debra A. ^[3]; Cardon, Annelise Marie Riggins ^[2]; Foley, Rebecca Rostand ^[2]; Hexel, Cole R. ^[3]; King-Lopez, Rachel ^[4]; Lindvall, Rachel E. ^[4]; Marks, Naomi ^[4]; Sharp, Michael A. ^[4]; Ticknor, Brian W. ^[3]

Los Alamos National Lab. (LANL), Los Alamos, NM (United States); Lawrence Livermore National Lab. (LLNL), Livermore, CA (United States)
Los Alamos National Lab. (LANL), Los Alamos, NM (United States)
Oak Ridge National Lab. (ORNL), Oak Ridge, TN (United States)
Lawrence Livermore National Lab. (LLNL), Livermore, CA (United States)

This interlaboratory study measured thorium concentrations and isotope compositions in uranium ore concentrates from different geographical locations to examine whether thorium impurities may be useful forensic signatures for uranium ore concentrates found out of regulatory control. Measured ²³⁰Th/²³²Th in fifteen uranium ore concentrates record over three orders of magnitude of compositional variation. Results demonstrate that ²³⁰Th/²³²Th used in combination with U/Th ratios resulted in a unique signature for individual uranium ore concentrates from different processing locations. Data presented here suggest potential for ²³⁰Th/²³²Th and U/Th to be used as comparative signatures to investigate the provenance of seized uranium ore concentrates.

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Research Organization:: Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL), Oak Ridge, TN (United States); Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL), Los Alamos, NM (United States)

Sponsoring Organization:: USDOE National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA), Office of Defense Nuclear Nonproliferation

Grant/Contract Number:: AC05-00OR22725; 89233218CNA000001

OSTI ID:: 1784124

Alternate ID(s):: OSTI ID: 1808839

Report Number(s):: LA-UR-20-27420; TRN: US2210167

Journal Information:: Journal of Radioanalytical and Nuclear Chemistry, Vol. 327, Issue 2; ISSN 0236-5731

Publisher:: SpringerCopyright Statement

Country of Publication:: United States

Language:: English

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38 RADIATION CHEMISTRY, RADIOCHEMISTRY, AND NUCLEAR CHEMISTRY
thorium
thorium isotope composition
uranium ore concentrate
nuclear forensics

Title: Exploring the use of thorium isotope compositions and concentrations as nuclear forensic signatures for uranium ore concentrates

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