SOME GEOCHEMICAL METHODS OF URANIUM EXPLORATION

Technical Report · Fri Oct 31 00:00:00 EST 1958

OSTI ID:4327416

Illsley, C T; Bills, C W; Pollock, J W

Geochemical research and development projects were carried on to provide basic information which may be applied to exploration or general studies of uranium geology. The applications and limitations of various aspects of geochemistry to uranium geological problems are considerd. Modifications of existing analytical techniques were made and tested in the laboratory and in the field. These include rapid quantitative determination of unranium in water, soil and peat, and of trace amounts of sulfate and phosphate in water. Geochemical anomaly'' has been defined as a significant departure from the average abundance background of an element where the distribution has not been disturbed by mineralization. The detection and significance of geocthemical anomalies are directly related to the mobility of the element being sought in the zone of weathering. Mobility of uranium is governed by complex physical, chemical, and biological factors. For uranium anomalies in surface materils, the chemicaly factors affecting mobility are the most sigificant. The effects of pH, solubility, coprecipitution, adsorption complexion, or compound formation are discussed in relation to anomalies detected in water, soil, and stream sediments. (auth)

• Research Organization: Division of Raw Materials. Geophysical Research and Development Branch , AEC
• NSA Number: NSA-12-014803
• OSTI ID: 4327416
• Report Number(s): A/CONF.15/P/1935
• Resource Relation: Other Information: Prepared for the Second U.N. International Conference on the Peaceful Uses of Atomic Energy, 1958. Orig. Receipt Date: 31-DEC-58
• Country of Publication: Country unknown/Code not available
• Language: English

Related Subjects

MINERALOGY, METALLURGY, AND CERAMICS
ACIDITY
ADSORPTION
BACKGROUND
BIOLOGY
DECOMPOSITION
DEPOSITS
DETECTION
DISTRIBUTION
GEOCHEMISTRY
GEOLOGY
HYDROLOGY
MINERALS
PHOSPHATES
PLANNING
PRECIPITATION
PROSPECTING
QUANTITATIVE ANALYSIS
QUANTITY RATIO
RIVERS
SOILS
SOLUTIONS
SULFATES
TRACE AMOUNTS
URANIUM
WATER