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

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

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

47 Scopus citations

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. 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.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)24-32
Number of pages9
JournalApplied Geochemistry
Volume74
DOIs
StatePublished - Nov 1 2016
Externally publishedYes

Funding

This work is funded by DHS Grant 2014-DN-077-ARI082 . The authors thank Dr. Ian Steele for his expertise with electron microprobe analysis. The Center of Environmental Science and Technology (CEST) at the University of Notre Dame is thanked for the training and use of the μ-XRF. This work was performed under the auspices of the U.S. Department of Energy by Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory under contract DE-AC52-07NA27344 .

FundersFunder number
U.S. Department of Energy
U.S. Department of Homeland Security2014-DN-077-ARI082
Lawrence Livermore National LaboratoryDE-AC52-07NA27344

    Keywords

    • ICP-MS
    • Strontium isotopes
    • Uranium deposits in the United States
    • Uranium ore concentrate

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