AN INVESTIGATION OF THE AMOUNT AND DISTRIBUTION OF URANIUM IN BASE METAL SULFIDE MINERALS IN VEIN ORE DEPOSITS. Annual Report for April 1, 1956 to April 30, 1957
Field work during Aug. 1956 was devoted to detailed sampling in the sunshine mine, Coeur d'Alene district, Idaho, and a number of deposits in the Walapai and Maynard mining districts, near Kingman, Arizona. On the basis of the first year's studies, these deposits appeared to be the best suited for detailed stady of the relationship of uranium content of sulfide minerals to that of the associated ore. Laboratory studies have been continued along the lines described in the Annual Report for July 1, 1955--March 31, 1956, RME-3142. Thick-source alpha-count determinations of equivalent uranium were made on 184 concentrated, acid-cleaned samples of galena, sphalerite, pyrite, and chalcopyrite, and tbese are being checked with fluorimetric determinations provided by New Brunswick Laboratory, AEC. Reta-gamma determimations of equivalent uranium were made on the bulk ore associated with the sulfides. A test of correlation was made between sulfide uranium content and the associated bulk ore uranium content. In addition to testing the entire group of data, sub-groups representing individual sulfides and individual mines or districts were tested. Significant values of the correlation coefficient were obtained for all groups representing a sizable amoumt of data, and probably will ultimately be obtained for those groups with fewer data where enough additional samples are available. A rather general correlation between uranium content in sulfides and in the associated ore is indicated by these tests. Counting of alpha tracks in autoradiographs of crushed, acid-cleaned sulfide grains has been continued. Several means have been used in an attempt to establish a ''standard'' distribution of alpha tracks in non-contaminated samples for comparison with the distribution obtained from individual samples, in order to detect ''contamination'' uranium as opposed to that introduced during crystallization. Preliminary results are encouraging but further development is necessary. Paragenetic studies have been completed on the more important mines and districts sampled, and the sequence of deposition interpreted is described for the Detroit and Golconda mines, Walapai district, Arizona; the Carroll mine, Central City district, Colorado; and the sunshine mine, Coeur d'Alene district, Idaho. Experimental studies of solid solution of uranium in hydrothermally grown crystals of galena, sphalerite, and pyrite have been conducted. Suitable conditions for the growth of satisfactory crystals of each sulfide were established by experimentation, and study of the solid solution of uranium in each sulfide as a function of temperature, pressure, and composition of charge has been started. A reconnaissance study of trace elements associated with uranium in sulfides from several localities has been made. The preliminary results showed some variation in cobalt, nickel, silver, bismuth, antimony, manganese, and arsenic in sulfide samples containing varying amounts of uranium, and indicated the desirability of further study of these elements in relation to uranium content. Analytical procedures of adequate sensitivity and precision are being developed for determination of these elements at very low levels in small sulfide samples. (auth)
- Research Organization:
- Pennsylvania state Univ., University Park. Coll. of Mineral Industries
- DOE Contract Number:
- AT(49-6)-991
- NSA Number:
- NSA-12-005356
- OSTI ID:
- 4310244
- Report Number(s):
- RME-3154
- Resource Relation:
- Other Information: Orig. Receipt Date: 31-DEC-58
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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Related Subjects
ALPHA DETECTION
ANTIMONY
ARIZONA
ARSENIC
BETA DETECTION
BISMUTH
CHALCOPYRITE
COBALT
CONTAMINATION
COPPER SULFIDES
CRYSTALS
DEPOSITS
DISTRIBUTION
FLUORESCENCE
GALENA
GAMMA DETECTION
HIGH TEMPERATURE
HYDROLOGY
IRON SULFIDES
LEAD SULFIDES
MANGANESE
MINERALS
MINING
NICKEL
ORES
PRESSURE
PYRITE
QUANTITATIVE ANALYSIS
RADIOAUTOGRAPHY
SAMPLING
SILVER
SOLID SOLUTIONS
SPHALERITE
SULFIDES
TRACE AMOUNTS
URANIUM
URANIUM MINERALS
ZINC SULFIDES