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U.S. Department of Energy
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Mobility of uranium, thorium and lanthanides around the Bangombe natural nuclear reactor (Gabon)

Book ·
OSTI ID:382899
 [1]; ; ; ;  [2]
  1. CEA CEN Cadarache, Saint Paul-lez-Durance (France)
  2. CNRS, Strasbourg (France)
New mineralogical and isotopic studies were carried out on samples form the Bangombe natural nuclear reactor. This reactor is located at shallow depth in the weathering profile and has been subjected to severe supergene alteration. Textural evidence indicates partial dissolution of uraninite in the Bangombe ore related to precipitation of Fe-Ti oxyhydroxides and clay minerals (kaolinite and metahalloysite). As a consequence of the alteration of the uraninite, uranium and fissiogenic rare earth elements were released in the clayey border of the reactor, whereas radiogenic {sup 232}Th remained confined in the close vicinity of the core. A retention effect is also evidenced, under reducing conditions, in the black shales located above the reactor.
OSTI ID:
382899
Report Number(s):
CONF-941075--; ISBN 1-55899-253-7
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English