Alligator Rivers analogue project final report volume 9 weathering and its effects on uranium redistribution
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Date
1992
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Australian Nuclear Science and Technology Organisation
Abstract
In the vicinity of the uranium ore deposit at Koongarra, quartz-chlorite schist, the ore host rock, has been subjected to weathering. Although quartz is resistant to weathering, chlorite has been altered to clays and iron minerals. The chlorite weathering and the uranium association with the weathered minerals are the main topics of this study. In order to clarify the weathering of chlorite and its effects on the redistribution of uranium, the processes, mechanisms, and kinetics of the chlorite weathering, and the uranium concentrations in minerals were examined by various methods: X-ray diffraction analysis, scanning electron microscopy, electron microprobe analysis, transmission electron microscopy, autoradiography, visible spectroscopy, alpha and gamma spectrometry. The observed results were compared to those calculated, based on two different models developed for the present study. Water-rock interactions have resulted in the weathering of chlorite and precipitation and sorption of uranyl from the groundwaters with the weathering products. It is concluded that the chlorite weathering affects the uranium retardation factor, and thus uranium redistribution at Koongarra.
Description
Keywords
Absorption, Chemical composition, Compiled data, Ecological concentration, Environmental transport, Experimental data, Flow models, Geologic models, Koongarra deposit, Radioactive materials, Radionuclide migration, Rock-fluid interactions, Spectra, Uranium ores, Weathering, Data, Geologic deposits, Information, Mass transfer, Mathematical models, Minerals, Numerical data, Sorption, Uranium deposits
Citation
Murakami, T., Isobe, H., Ohnuki, T., Yanase, N., Sato, T., Kimura, H., Sekine, K., Edis, R., Koppi, A. J., Klessa. D. A., Conoley. C., Nagano, T., Nakashima, S., & Ewing, R. C. (1992). Alligator Rivers analogue project final report volume 9 weathering and its effects on uranium redistribution. Menai, NSW, Australia: Australian Nuclear Science and Technology Organisation.