Geochemical investigation of UMTRAP designated site at Durango, Colorado
This report is the result of a geochemical investigation of the former uranium mill and tailings site at Durango, Colorado. This is one in a series of site specific geochemical investigations performed on the inactive uranium mill tailings included in the UMTRA Project. The objectives of the investigation are to characterize the geochemistry, to determine the contaminant distribution resulting from the former milling activities and tailings, and to infer chemical pathways and transport mechanisms from the contaminant distribution. The results will be used to model contaminant migration and to develop criteria for long-term containment media such as a cover system which is impermeable to contaminant migration. This report assumes a familiarity with the hydrologic conditions of the site and the geochemical concepts underlying the investigation. The results reported are based on a one-time sampling of waters and solid material from the background, the area adjacent to the site, and the site. The solid samples are water extracted remove easily soluble salts and acids extracted to remove cabonates and hydroxides. The water extracts and solid samples were analyzed for the major and trace elements. A limited number of samples were analyzed for radiological components. The report includes the methods of sampling, sample processing, analysis, and data interpretation. Three major conclusions are: (1) carbonate salts and low TDS characterize the tailings; (2) the adjacent area and raffinate ponds contain contaminants deposited by a single event of fluid permeation of the soils; and (3) the Animas River adjacent to the site has elevated gross alpha activity attributed to /sup 226/Ra in the sediments derived from the tailings or milling activities.
- Research Organization:
- Geochemistry and Environmental Chemistry Research, Inc., Rapid City, SD (USA)
- DOE Contract Number:
- AC04-82AL18797
- OSTI ID:
- 5501953
- Report Number(s):
- DOE/UMT-0227; GECR-822; ON: DE85014470
- Resource Relation:
- Other Information: Portions of this document are illegible in microfiche products
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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PHYSICAL AND ANALYTICAL CHEMISTRY
11 NUCLEAR FUEL CYCLE AND FUEL MATERIALS
COLORADO
MILL TAILINGS
GEOCHEMISTRY
REMEDIAL ACTION
SOILS
MULTI-ELEMENT ANALYSIS
SURFACE WATERS
ABSORPTION SPECTROSCOPY
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NICKEL
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QUANTITATIVE CHEMICAL ANALYSIS
RADIONUCLIDE MIGRATION
SAMPLING
SELENIUM
SILICON
SILVER
SODIUM
SPECTROPHOTOMETRY
STRONTIUM
SULFATES
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CHEMICAL ANALYSIS
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FEDERAL REGION VIII
HALOGENS
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MASS TRANSFER
METALS
NONMETALS
NORTH AMERICA
NUMERICAL DATA
OXYGEN COMPOUNDS
SEMIMETALS
SOLID WASTES
SPECTROSCOPY
SULFUR COMPOUNDS
TAILINGS
TRANSITION ELEMENTS
USA
WASTES
052001* - Nuclear Fuels- Waste Processing
400100 - Analytical & Separations Chemistry
054000 - Nuclear Fuels- Health & Safety