Exploring the use of thorium isotope compositions and concentrations as nuclear forensic signatures for uranium ore concentrates
Abstract
This interlaboratory study measured thorium concentrations and isotope compositions in uranium ore concentrates from different geographical locations to examine whether thorium impurities may be useful forensic signatures for uranium ore concentrates found out of regulatory control. Measured 230Th/232Th in fifteen uranium ore concentrates record over three orders of magnitude of compositional variation. Results demonstrate that 230Th/232Th used in combination with U/Th ratios resulted in a unique signature for individual uranium ore concentrates from different processing locations. Data presented here suggest potential for 230Th/232Th and U/Th to be used as comparative signatures to investigate the provenance of seized uranium ore concentrates.
- Authors:
-
[1];
[2];
- Los Alamos National Lab. (LANL), Los Alamos, NM (United States); Lawrence Livermore National Lab. (LLNL), Livermore, CA (United States)
- Los Alamos National Lab. (LANL), Los Alamos, NM (United States)
- Oak Ridge National Lab. (ORNL), Oak Ridge, TN (United States)
- Lawrence Livermore National Lab. (LLNL), Livermore, CA (United States)
- Publication Date:
- Research Org.:
- Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL), Oak Ridge, TN (United States); Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL), Los Alamos, NM (United States)
- Sponsoring Org.:
- USDOE National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA), Office of Defense Nuclear Nonproliferation
- OSTI Identifier:
- 1784124
- Alternate Identifier(s):
- OSTI ID: 1808839
- Report Number(s):
- LA-UR-20-27420
Journal ID: ISSN 0236-5731; TRN: US2210167
- Grant/Contract Number:
- AC05-00OR22725; 89233218CNA000001
- Resource Type:
- Accepted Manuscript
- Journal Name:
- Journal of Radioanalytical and Nuclear Chemistry
- Additional Journal Information:
- Journal Volume: 327; Journal Issue: 2; Journal ID: ISSN 0236-5731
- Publisher:
- Springer
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
- Subject:
- 38 RADIATION CHEMISTRY, RADIOCHEMISTRY, AND NUCLEAR CHEMISTRY; thorium; thorium isotope composition; uranium ore concentrate; nuclear forensics
Citation Formats
Kayzar-Boggs, Theresa M., Kinman, William Scott, Bostick, Debra A., Cardon, Annelise Marie Riggins, Foley, Rebecca Rostand, Hexel, Cole R., King-Lopez, Rachel, Lindvall, Rachel E., Marks, Naomi, Sharp, Michael A., and Ticknor, Brian W. Exploring the use of thorium isotope compositions and concentrations as nuclear forensic signatures for uranium ore concentrates. United States: N. p., 2021.
Web. doi:10.1007/s10967-020-07534-6.
Kayzar-Boggs, Theresa M., Kinman, William Scott, Bostick, Debra A., Cardon, Annelise Marie Riggins, Foley, Rebecca Rostand, Hexel, Cole R., King-Lopez, Rachel, Lindvall, Rachel E., Marks, Naomi, Sharp, Michael A., & Ticknor, Brian W. Exploring the use of thorium isotope compositions and concentrations as nuclear forensic signatures for uranium ore concentrates. United States. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10967-020-07534-6
Kayzar-Boggs, Theresa M., Kinman, William Scott, Bostick, Debra A., Cardon, Annelise Marie Riggins, Foley, Rebecca Rostand, Hexel, Cole R., King-Lopez, Rachel, Lindvall, Rachel E., Marks, Naomi, Sharp, Michael A., and Ticknor, Brian W. Mon .
"Exploring the use of thorium isotope compositions and concentrations as nuclear forensic signatures for uranium ore concentrates". United States. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10967-020-07534-6. https://www.osti.gov/servlets/purl/1784124.
@article{osti_1784124,
title = {Exploring the use of thorium isotope compositions and concentrations as nuclear forensic signatures for uranium ore concentrates},
author = {Kayzar-Boggs, Theresa M. and Kinman, William Scott and Bostick, Debra A. and Cardon, Annelise Marie Riggins and Foley, Rebecca Rostand and Hexel, Cole R. and King-Lopez, Rachel and Lindvall, Rachel E. and Marks, Naomi and Sharp, Michael A. and Ticknor, Brian W.},
abstractNote = {This interlaboratory study measured thorium concentrations and isotope compositions in uranium ore concentrates from different geographical locations to examine whether thorium impurities may be useful forensic signatures for uranium ore concentrates found out of regulatory control. Measured 230Th/232Th in fifteen uranium ore concentrates record over three orders of magnitude of compositional variation. Results demonstrate that 230Th/232Th used in combination with U/Th ratios resulted in a unique signature for individual uranium ore concentrates from different processing locations. Data presented here suggest potential for 230Th/232Th and U/Th to be used as comparative signatures to investigate the provenance of seized uranium ore concentrates.},
doi = {10.1007/s10967-020-07534-6},
journal = {Journal of Radioanalytical and Nuclear Chemistry},
number = 2,
volume = 327,
place = {United States},
year = {Mon Jan 25 00:00:00 EST 2021},
month = {Mon Jan 25 00:00:00 EST 2021}
}
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