Study of uranium and thorium isotopes in ground waters and solids of two uranium mines, south Texas
Isotopic analysis was carried out on water and solid samples taken from both the ore zones and the general vicinity of two uranium mines in south Texas. The uranium deposits were of the roll-front type. The ore-bearing formations were the Catahoula Formation of Miocene age in Duval County and the Upper Jackson formation of Eocene age in Karnes County. Solid samples were analyzed for /sup 234/U, /sup 238/U and /sup 230/Th, water for /sup 234/U and /sup 239/U. In order to test several models which have been proposed to explain the fractionation of various nuclides in the vicinity of a reduction-oxidation front, plots incorporating uranium concentration and /sup 234/U//sup 238/U activity ratio (AR) of the water and /sup 234/U//sup 238/U and /sup 230/Th//sup 238/U - /sup 234/U//sup 238/U of the solid were used. The integration of data from each of these models, including contour maps of various isotopic parameters and statistical plots helped in predicting the presence, the stage of deposition (dispersing, stable or accumulating) and the degree of radioactive disequilibrium of the deposits under study. The isotopic data were also useful in determining the position of the redox boundary and the environment of a sample. These methods may be useful in prospecting studies of other possible uranium deposits, both in the oxidized and/or the reduced environment.
- Research Organization:
- Florida State Univ., Tallahassee (USA)
- OSTI ID:
- 5795648
- Resource Relation:
- Other Information: Thesis (Ph. D.)
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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Related Subjects
GROUND WATER
NATURAL RADIOACTIVITY
TEXAS
URANIUM MINES
THORIUM ISOTOPES
ISOTOPE RATIO
URANIUM ISOTOPES
THORIUM 230
URANIUM 234
URANIUM 238
ACTINIDE ISOTOPES
ACTINIDE NUCLEI
ALPHA DECAY RADIOISOTOPES
EVEN-EVEN NUCLEI
FEDERAL REGION VI
HEAVY NUCLEI
HYDROGEN COMPOUNDS
ISOTOPES
MINES
NORTH AMERICA
NUCLEI
OXYGEN COMPOUNDS
RADIOACTIVITY
RADIOISOTOPES
UNDERGROUND FACILITIES
USA
WATER
YEARS LIVING RADIOISOTOPES
050200* - Nuclear Fuels- Exploration- (-1987)