Chemical and Sr isotopic characterization of North America uranium ores: Nuclear forensic applications
Abstract
This study reports major, minor, and trace element data and Sr isotope ratios for 11 uranium ore (uraninite, UO2+x) samples and one processed uranium ore concentrate (UOC) from various U.S. deposits. The uraninite investigated represent ores formed via different modes of mineralization (e.g., high- and low-temperature) and within various geological contexts, which include magmatic pegmatites, metamorphic rocks, sandstone-hosted, and roll front deposits. In situ trace element data obtained by laser ablation-ICP-MS and bulk sample Sr isotopic ratios for uraninite samples investigated here indicate distinct signatures that are highly dependent on the mode of mineralization and host rock geology. Relative to their high-temperature counterparts, low-temperature uranium ores record high U/Th ratios (>1000), low total rare earth element (REE) abundances (<1 wt%), high contents (>300 ppm) of first row transition metals (Sc, Ti, V, Cr, Mn, Co, Ni), and radiogenic 87Sr/86Sr ratios (>0.7200). Comparison of chondrite normalized REE patterns between uraninite and corresponding processed UOC from the same locality indicates identical patterns at different absolute concentrations. Lastly, this result ultimately confirms the importance of establishing geochemical signatures of raw, uranium ore materials for attribution purposes in the forensic analysis of intercepted nuclear materials.
- Authors:
-
[2];
- Univ. of Notre Dame, Notre Dame, IN (United States); Lawrence Livermore National Lab. (LLNL), Livermore, CA (United States)
- Univ. of Notre Dame, Notre Dame, IN (United States)
- Publication Date:
- Research Org.:
- Lawrence Livermore National Lab. (LLNL), Livermore, CA (United States)
- Sponsoring Org.:
- USDOE
- OSTI Identifier:
- 1331456
- Alternate Identifier(s):
- OSTI ID: 1396611
- Report Number(s):
- LLNL-JRNL-702080
Journal ID: ISSN 0883-2927; TRN: US1700118
- Grant/Contract Number:
- AC52-07NA27344
- Resource Type:
- Accepted Manuscript
- Journal Name:
- Applied Geochemistry
- Additional Journal Information:
- Journal Volume: 74; Journal Issue: C; Journal ID: ISSN 0883-2927
- Publisher:
- Elsevier
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
- Subject:
- 58 GEOSCIENCES; 07 ISOTOPES AND RADIATION SOURCES; uranium deposits in the United States; uranium ore concentrate; strontium isotopes; ICP-MS
Citation Formats
Balboni, Enrica, Jones, Nina, Spano, Tyler, Simonetti, Antonio, and Burns, Peter C. Chemical and Sr isotopic characterization of North America uranium ores: Nuclear forensic applications. United States: N. p., 2016.
Web. doi:10.1016/j.apgeochem.2016.08.016.
Balboni, Enrica, Jones, Nina, Spano, Tyler, Simonetti, Antonio, & Burns, Peter C. Chemical and Sr isotopic characterization of North America uranium ores: Nuclear forensic applications. United States. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.apgeochem.2016.08.016
Balboni, Enrica, Jones, Nina, Spano, Tyler, Simonetti, Antonio, and Burns, Peter C. Wed .
"Chemical and Sr isotopic characterization of North America uranium ores: Nuclear forensic applications". United States. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.apgeochem.2016.08.016. https://www.osti.gov/servlets/purl/1331456.
@article{osti_1331456,
title = {Chemical and Sr isotopic characterization of North America uranium ores: Nuclear forensic applications},
author = {Balboni, Enrica and Jones, Nina and Spano, Tyler and Simonetti, Antonio and Burns, Peter C.},
abstractNote = {This study reports major, minor, and trace element data and Sr isotope ratios for 11 uranium ore (uraninite, UO2+x) samples and one processed uranium ore concentrate (UOC) from various U.S. deposits. The uraninite investigated represent ores formed via different modes of mineralization (e.g., high- and low-temperature) and within various geological contexts, which include magmatic pegmatites, metamorphic rocks, sandstone-hosted, and roll front deposits. In situ trace element data obtained by laser ablation-ICP-MS and bulk sample Sr isotopic ratios for uraninite samples investigated here indicate distinct signatures that are highly dependent on the mode of mineralization and host rock geology. Relative to their high-temperature counterparts, low-temperature uranium ores record high U/Th ratios (>1000), low total rare earth element (REE) abundances (<1 wt%), high contents (>300 ppm) of first row transition metals (Sc, Ti, V, Cr, Mn, Co, Ni), and radiogenic 87Sr/86Sr ratios (>0.7200). Comparison of chondrite normalized REE patterns between uraninite and corresponding processed UOC from the same locality indicates identical patterns at different absolute concentrations. Lastly, this result ultimately confirms the importance of establishing geochemical signatures of raw, uranium ore materials for attribution purposes in the forensic analysis of intercepted nuclear materials.},
doi = {10.1016/j.apgeochem.2016.08.016},
journal = {Applied Geochemistry},
number = C,
volume = 74,
place = {United States},
year = {Wed Aug 31 00:00:00 EDT 2016},
month = {Wed Aug 31 00:00:00 EDT 2016}
}
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Works referencing / citing this record:
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