Browsing by Author "Leung, SHF"

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    Chemistry, microstructure, and alpha decay damage of natural brannerite
    (Elsevier, 2012-01-06) Lumpkin, GR; Leung, SHF; Ferenczy, J
    To investigate the long-term stability of brannerite with respect to alpha decay damage and interaction with aqueous fluids, we have undertaken a study of twelve natural samples from a range of geological environments. Our results indicate that seven of the samples exhibit only minor alteration, usually located within veinlets or around the rim of the sample. The remaining five samples consist of variable amounts of unaltered and altered brannerite. Based on a total of 3 metal cations, the Ti and U contents of unaltered brannerite range from 1.8 to 2.1 and 0.4 to 0.9 atoms per formula unit (apfu), respectively. Maximum amounts of the other major cations on the A-site are 0.48 Ca, 0.22 Th, 0.14 Y, and 0.07 Ln (lanthanide = Ce, Nd, Gd, Sm) atoms pfu. Maximum values of other cations on the B-site are 0.15 Fe, 0.14 Si, 0.09 Al, 0.06 Nb, 0.04 Mn, and 0.04 Ni atoms pfu. Altered regions of brannerite contain significant amounts of Si and other elements incorporated from an aqueous fluid phase, and up to 40–90% of the original amount of U has been lost as a result of alteration. SEM-EDX results also provide evidence for TiO2 phases, galena, and a thorite-like phase as alteration products. Electron diffraction patterns of all samples typically consist of two broad, diffuse rings that have equivalent d-spacings of 0.31 nm and 0.19 nm, indicating that brannerite is rendered completely amorphous by alpha decay damage. Many of the grains also exhibit weak diffraction spots due to fine-grained inclusions of a uranium oxide phase and galena. Using the available age data, these samples have accumulated alpha decay doses in the range of 0.7–200 × 1016 α mg−1. Although imprecise, the U–Th–Pb chemical ages determined by microanalysis are generally consistent with the known ages and geological histories of the brannerite host rocks. To a first approximation, it is possible to understand the results of chemical and isotopic dating of brannerite by treating each sample as a complex system composed of nominally unaltered, altered, and recrystallised areas. The dominant effects are U loss from altered areas and Pb loss from unaltered brannerite and, to a lesser extent, altered brannerite, the structure of which approximates to a Ti–Si–O glass-like network wherein Pb is more comfortable as a network modifier. Crown Copyright © 2011 Published by Elsevier
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    Crystal chemistry, alpha decay damage, and geochemical alteration of brannerite and davidite
    (Committee of Asia-Pacific Societies of Microscopy, 2012-02-07) Lumpkin, GR; Zhang, YJ; Leung, SHF; Ferenczy, J
    To investigate the long-term stability of the uranium minerals brannerite and davidite, we have undertaken an electron microscopy study of samples from a range of geological environments worldwide. Our results indicate that both minerals are transformed to an amorphous phase after a dose of approximately 10 16 α mg-1, similar to other rare element oxide minerals. Both minerals are susceptible to alteration via interaction with hydrothermal fluids, although by different mechanisms. The U-Th-Pb chemical ages of brannerite are generally consistent with the known ages and geological histories of the host rocks. These ages are affected by U loss from altered areas and Pb loss from unaltered brannerite.