skip to main content
OSTI.GOV title logo U.S. Department of Energy
Office of Scientific and Technical Information

Title: Radioecological investigations of uranium-mill-tailings systems. Fourth technical progress report, October 1, 1982-September 30, 1983

Abstract

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 ofmore » revegetated or 0.3m of bare overburden had exhalation rates comparable to background. A positive correlation was demonstrated between precipitation and radon flux.« less

Authors:
;
Publication Date:
Research Org.:
Colorado State Univ., Fort Collins (USA). Dept. of Radiology and Radiation Biology
OSTI Identifier:
5534545
Report Number(s):
DOE/EV/10305-11
ON: DE84001803
DOE Contract Number:  
AC02-79EV10305
Resource Type:
Technical Report
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English
Subject:
54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES; 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

Citation Formats

Whicker, F W, and Ibrahim, S A. Radioecological investigations of uranium-mill-tailings systems. Fourth technical progress report, October 1, 1982-September 30, 1983. United States: N. p., 1983. Web.
Whicker, F W, & Ibrahim, S A. Radioecological investigations of uranium-mill-tailings systems. Fourth technical progress report, October 1, 1982-September 30, 1983. United States.
Whicker, F W, and Ibrahim, S A. 1983. "Radioecological investigations of uranium-mill-tailings systems. Fourth technical progress report, October 1, 1982-September 30, 1983". United States.
@article{osti_5534545,
title = {Radioecological investigations of uranium-mill-tailings systems. Fourth technical progress report, October 1, 1982-September 30, 1983},
author = {Whicker, F W and Ibrahim, S A},
abstractNote = {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.},
doi = {},
url = {https://www.osti.gov/biblio/5534545}, journal = {},
number = ,
volume = ,
place = {United States},
year = {Sat Oct 15 00:00:00 EDT 1983},
month = {Sat Oct 15 00:00:00 EDT 1983}
}

Technical Report:
Other availability
Please see Document Availability for additional information on obtaining the full-text document. Library patrons may search WorldCat to identify libraries that may hold this item. Keep in mind that many technical reports are not cataloged in WorldCat.

Save / Share: