Radiological survey of the inactive uranium-mill tailings at Tuba City, Arizona

Technical Report · Tue Jan 01 04:00:00 EST 1980

OSTI ID:5659593

Haywood, F F; Jones, T D; Hubbard, Jr, H M; Ellis, B S; Shinpaugh, W H

Results of a radiological survey of the inactive uranium-mill site at Tuba City, Arizona, conducted in March 1976, are presented. Spread of tailings was detected in all directions by means of direct gamma measurements at 1 m above the ground and by determinations of the /sup 226/Ra concentration in surface soil and sediment samples. In the direction toward which prevailing winds blow, the northeast, evidence of transportation of tailings was found at least 3.2 km from the tailings pile. Toward the north, south, and west, the spread was 300 to 400 m. Evidence of movement of tailings by water to offsite locations was also found. The concentration of /sup 226/Ra in all water samples was well below the concentration guide for drinking water. The calculated subsoil distribution of /sup 226/Ra in 14 holes, based on gamma monitoring data obtained by Ford, Bacon and Davis Utah Inc., is presented graphically and compared with available analytical data.

• Research Organization: Oak Ridge National Lab., TN (USA)
• DOE Contract Number: W-7405-ENG-26
• OSTI ID: 5659593
• Report Number(s): ORNL-5450
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

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54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
ACTINIDES
ALKALINE EARTH ISOTOPES
ALPHA DECAY RADIOISOTOPES
ARIZONA
ELEMENTS
ENVIRONMENTAL EFFECTS
ENVIRONMENTAL TRANSPORT
EVEN-EVEN NUCLEI
FEED MATERIALS PLANTS
HEAVY NUCLEI
HYDROGEN COMPOUNDS
INDUSTRIAL PLANTS
ISOTOPES
MASS TRANSFER
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MILL TAILINGS
MONITORING
NORTH AMERICA
NUCLEAR FACILITIES
NUCLEI
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RADIATION MONITORING
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RADIONUCLIDE MIGRATION
RADIUM 226
RADIUM ISOTOPES
SHUTDOWNS
SOILS
SOLID WASTES
TAILINGS
URANIUM
USA
WASTES
WATER
WESTERN REGION
WIND
YEARS LIVING RADIOISOTOPES