Mineralogical residence of alpha-emitting contamination and implications for mobilization from uranium mill tailings

Morrison, SJ; Cahn, LS

HERO ID

28173

Reference Type

Journal Article

Year

1991

Language

eng

HERO ID 28173
In Press No
Year 1991
Title Mineralogical residence of alpha-emitting contamination and implications for mobilization from uranium mill tailings
Authors Morrison, SJ; Cahn, LS
Journal Journal of Contaminant Hydrology
Volume 8
Issue 1
Page Numbers 1-21
Abstract BIOSIS COPYRIGHT: BIOL ABS. The rate and magnitude of contaminant release from mill tailings to groundwater are known to depend on the form and mineralogy of the host grains. Using samples from three uranium mill sites in the western United States, we identified four types of alpha-emitting host grains-those containing barium-strontium sulfates, authigenic siliceous material, uranium minerals, and iron-titanium-vanadium oxides. These four grain types constitute a classification scheme for the tailings. Each milling process (acid or alkaline) produces distinct types of grains. In acid-milled tailings, such as those at Slick Rock, Colorado, the dominant source of alpha emissions is from barium-strontium sulfate. The barium-to-strontium ratio covers the entire solid-solution range between barite and celestite. In alkaline-milled tailings, alpha emissions come predominantly from siliceous composite grains, wwhich are interpreted as grains from the mill feed that have been altered during milling. In the
Is Certified Translation No
Dupe Override No
Comments J. Contam. Hydrol. 8: 1-21.
Is Public Yes
Language Text eng
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Is Qa No