Chemical and Sr isotopic characterization of North America uranium ores: Nuclear forensic applications

Balboni, Enrica; Jones, Nina; Spano, Tyler; Simonetti, Antonio; Burns, Peter C.

doi:10.1016/j.apgeochem.2016.08.016

Title: Chemical and Sr isotopic characterization of North America uranium ores: Nuclear forensic applications

Journal Article · Wed Aug 31 00:00:00 EDT 2016 · Applied Geochemistry

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1016/j.apgeochem.2016.08.016· OSTI ID:1331456

Balboni, Enrica ^[1]; Jones, Nina ^[2];

^[2]; Simonetti, Antonio ^[2]; Burns, Peter C. ^[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)

This study reports major, minor, and trace element data and Sr isotope ratios for 11 uranium ore (uraninite, UO_2+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.

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Research Organization:: Lawrence Livermore National Lab. (LLNL), Livermore, CA (United States)

Sponsoring Organization:: USDOE

Grant/Contract Number:: AC52-07NA27344

OSTI ID:: 1331456

Alternate ID(s):: OSTI ID: 1396611

Report Number(s):: LLNL-JRNL-702080; TRN: US1700118

Journal Information:: Applied Geochemistry, Vol. 74, Issue C; ISSN 0883-2927

Publisher:: ElsevierCopyright Statement

Country of Publication:: United States

Language:: English

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Cited by: 30 works

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Determination of lead isotope ratios in uranium mine products in South Africa by means of inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry Mathuthu, Manny; Khumalo, Ntokozo Journal of Radioanalytical and Nuclear Chemistry, Vol. 315, Issue 1 https://doi.org/10.1007/s10967-017-5641-z	journal	December 2017
Characterization of uraninite using a FIB–SEM approach and its implications for LA–ICP–MS analyses Lewis, Stefanie R.; Simonetti, Antonio; Corcoran, Loretta Journal of Radioanalytical and Nuclear Chemistry, Vol. 318, Issue 2 https://doi.org/10.1007/s10967-018-6232-3	journal	October 2018
A novel nuclear forensic tool involving deposit type normalized rare earth element signatures Spano, Tyler L.; Simonetti, Antonio; Wheeler, Thomas Terra Nova, Vol. 29, Issue 5 https://doi.org/10.1111/ter.12275	journal	July 2017
Multivariate Analysis Based on Geochemical, Isotopic, and Mineralogical Compositions of Uranium-Rich Samples Corcoran, Loretta; Simonetti, Antonio; Spano, Tyler L. Minerals, Vol. 9, Issue 9 https://doi.org/10.3390/min9090537	journal	September 2019
Geochronology and Geochemistry of Uraninite and Coffinite: Insights into Ore-Forming Process in the Pegmatite-Hosted Uraniferous Province, North Qinling, Central China Yuan, Feng; Jiang, Shao-Yong; Liu, Jiajun Minerals, Vol. 9, Issue 9 https://doi.org/10.3390/min9090552	journal	September 2019

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