Exploring the use of thorium isotope compositions and concentrations as nuclear forensic signatures for uranium ore concentrates

Theresa M. Kayzar-Boggs; William S. Kinman; Debra A. Bostick; Annelise Cardon; Rebecca R. Foley; Cole R. Hexel; Rachel King-Lopez; Rachel E. Lindvall; Naomi Marks; Michael A. Sharp; Brian W. Ticknor

doi:10.1007/s10967-020-07534-6

Exploring the use of thorium isotope compositions and concentrations as nuclear forensic signatures for uranium ore concentrates

Theresa M. Kayzar-Boggs, William S. Kinman, Debra A. Bostick, Annelise Cardon, Rebecca R. Foley, Cole R. Hexel, Rachel King-Lopez, Rachel E. Lindvall, Naomi Marks, Michael A. Sharp, Brian W. Ticknor

Chemical & Isotopic Mass Spectrometry

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

6 Scopus citations

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.

Original language	English
Pages (from-to)	877-889
Number of pages	13
Journal	Journal of Radioanalytical and Nuclear Chemistry
Volume	327
Issue number	2
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1007/s10967-020-07534-6
State	Published - Feb 2021

Funding

Funding was provided by U.S. Department of Energy.

Funders	Funder number
U.S. Department of Energy

Keywords

Nuclear forensics
Thorium
Thorium isotope composition
Uranium ore concentrate

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10.1007/s10967-020-07534-6

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Kayzar-Boggs, T. M., Kinman, W. S., Bostick, D. A., Cardon, A., Foley, R. R., Hexel, C. R., King-Lopez, R., Lindvall, R. E., Marks, N., Sharp, M. A., & Ticknor, B. W. (2021). Exploring the use of thorium isotope compositions and concentrations as nuclear forensic signatures for uranium ore concentrates. Journal of Radioanalytical and Nuclear Chemistry, 327(2), 877-889. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10967-020-07534-6

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title = "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.",

keywords = "Nuclear forensics, Thorium, Thorium isotope composition, Uranium ore concentrate",

author = "Kayzar-Boggs, {Theresa M.} and Kinman, {William S.} and Bostick, {Debra A.} and Annelise Cardon and Foley, {Rebecca R.} and Hexel, {Cole R.} and Rachel King-Lopez and Lindvall, {Rachel E.} and Naomi Marks and Sharp, {Michael A.} and Ticknor, {Brian W.}",

note = "Publisher Copyright: {\textcopyright} 2021, This is a U.S. Government work and not under copyright protection in the US; foreign copyright protection may apply.",

year = "2021",

month = feb,

doi = "10.1007/s10967-020-07534-6",

language = "English",

volume = "327",

pages = "877--889",

journal = "Journal of Radioanalytical and Nuclear Chemistry",

issn = "0236-5731",

publisher = "Akad{\'e}miai Kiad{\'o}",

number = "2",

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Kayzar-Boggs, TM, Kinman, WS, Bostick, DA, Cardon, A, Foley, RR, Hexel, CR, King-Lopez, R, Lindvall, RE, Marks, N, Sharp, MA & Ticknor, BW 2021, 'Exploring the use of thorium isotope compositions and concentrations as nuclear forensic signatures for uranium ore concentrates', Journal of Radioanalytical and Nuclear Chemistry, vol. 327, no. 2, pp. 877-889. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10967-020-07534-6

TY - JOUR

T1 - Exploring the use of thorium isotope compositions and concentrations as nuclear forensic signatures for uranium ore concentrates

AU - Kayzar-Boggs, Theresa M.

AU - Kinman, William S.

AU - Bostick, Debra A.

AU - Cardon, Annelise

AU - Foley, Rebecca R.

AU - Hexel, Cole R.

AU - King-Lopez, Rachel

AU - Lindvall, Rachel E.

AU - Marks, Naomi

AU - Sharp, Michael A.

AU - Ticknor, Brian W.

PY - 2021/2

Y1 - 2021/2

N2 - 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.

AB - 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.

KW - Nuclear forensics

KW - Thorium

KW - Thorium isotope composition

KW - Uranium ore concentrate

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M3 - Article

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SN - 0236-5731

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JF - Journal of Radioanalytical and Nuclear Chemistry

IS - 2

ER -

Exploring the use of thorium isotope compositions and concentrations as nuclear forensic signatures for uranium ore concentrates

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