T50 Uranium Fate and Transport in the Environment

Sunday, 9 October 2022
1:30 PM - 5:30 PM
205

MICROSCALE VISUALIZATION AND ELEMENTAL ANALYSIS OF SOLID-PHASE URANIUM GEOCHEMISTRY ON CONTAMINATED SEDIMENTS USING FISSION TRACK TECHNOLOGY

Paper number: T50-6
Program: Technical Sessions
Time: 2:40 PM – 2:55 PM

Authors

Abstract

Residual solid-phase uranium (U) from former mill tailings contributes to persistent concentrations of uranium in groundwater. It is hypothesized that the solid-phase uranium source is predominantly aluminum and iron precipitates, organic carbon and evaporite minerals. The objective is to qualitatively analyze solid-phase uranium associations from samples collected below the water table from source zone; above and below naturally reducing zone, and above and below water table from downgradient. Uranium mineralogic associations will be first observed using fission-track radiography images coupled to scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Potential solid-phase uranium associations will be elucidated by elemental analysis in the proximity of uranium using energy dispersive x-ray spectrometry (EDS). The association of uranium identification will allow to better interpret the transport mechanism of uranium from solid phase to aqueous phase.

Geological Society of America Abstracts with Programs. Vol. 54, No. 6

doi: 10.1130/abs/2022AM-379607

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