Radioecological investigations of uranium-mill-tailings systems. Fourth technical progress report, October 1, 1982-September 30, 1983
This document provides a status report on studies which address some of the problems and questions on the integrity and transport of several radionuclides in active and reclaimed uranium mill tailings. The studies reported are being conducted at the Shirley Basin Uranium Mine, located in southeastern Wyoming. The investigation quantitatively evaluates the potential release of important radionuclides from active and reclaimed uranium mill tailings and their entry into the food chain. For active mill tailings, we are trying to quantify the degree of escape and dispersal, primarily by wind, and to measure the accumulation of /sup 238/U, /sup 230/Th, /sup 226/Ra, /sup 210/Pb and /sup 210/Po by various native plants. Of particular interest are the relationships between soil and vegetation at different sites, since the chemical environment of areas impacted by mill tailings are drastically different than undisturbed natural areas. Also of great interest, is the relative importance of various mechanisms of radionuclide accumulation by plants, such as root uptake and aerial deposition, followed by some degree of foliar absorption. This investigation includes as a major component, studies relating to the final disposal of mill tailings. Experiments on radon flux versus overburden depth showed that tailings covered with 1.5m of revegetated or 0.3m of bare overburden had exhalation rates comparable to background. A positive correlation was demonstrated between precipitation and radon flux.
- Research Organization:
- Colorado State Univ., Fort Collins (USA). Dept. of Radiology and Radiation Biology
- DOE Contract Number:
- AC02-79EV10305
- OSTI ID:
- 5534545
- Report Number(s):
- DOE/EV/10305-11; ON: DE84001803
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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Radioecological investigations of uranium-mill-tailings systems. Third technical progress report, October 1, 1981-September 30, 1982
Radioecological investigations of uranium-mill-tailings systems. Second technical progress report, October 1, 1980-September 30, 1981
Related Subjects
11 NUCLEAR FUEL CYCLE AND FUEL MATERIALS
LEAD 210
BIOLOGICAL ACCUMULATION
ENVIRONMENTAL EXPOSURE PATHWAY
MILL TAILINGS
RADIONUCLIDE MIGRATION
POLONIUM 210
RADIUM 226
THORIUM 230
URANIUM 238
DEPOSITION
EXPERIMENTAL DATA
LEAVES
OVERBURDEN
PLANTS
RADON 222
ROOT ABSORPTION
SOILS
WIND
WYOMING
ABSORPTION
ACTINIDE ISOTOPES
ACTINIDE NUCLEI
ALKALINE EARTH ISOTOPES
ALPHA DECAY RADIOISOTOPES
BETA DECAY RADIOISOTOPES
BETA-MINUS DECAY RADIOISOTOPES
DATA
DAYS LIVING RADIOISOTOPES
ENVIRONMENTAL TRANSPORT
EVEN-EVEN NUCLEI
FEDERAL REGION VIII
HEAVY NUCLEI
INFORMATION
ISOTOPES
LEAD ISOTOPES
MASS TRANSFER
NORTH AMERICA
NUCLEI
NUMERICAL DATA
POLONIUM ISOTOPES
RADIOISOTOPES
RADIUM ISOTOPES
RADON ISOTOPES
SOLID WASTES
TAILINGS
THORIUM ISOTOPES
UPTAKE
URANIUM ISOTOPES
USA
WASTES
YEARS LIVING RADIOISOTOPES
510302* - Environment
Terrestrial- Radioactive Materials Monitoring & Transport- Terrestrial Ecosystems & Food Chains- (-1987)
053000 - Nuclear Fuels- Environmental Aspects