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Partitioning and Leaching Behavior of Actinides and Rare Earth Elements in a Zirconolite-bearing Hydrothermal Vein System

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  19 October 2011

Timothy E Payne ,
Reto Giere ,
Kaye P Hart ,
Gregory R Lumpkin  and
Peter J McGlinn
Timothy E Payne
Affiliation:
tep@ansto.gov.au, ANSTO, Institute for Environmental Research, New Illawarra Road, Menai, 2234, Australia
Reto Giere
Affiliation:
giere@uni-freiburg.de, Albert-Ludwigs-Universität, Mineralogisch-Geochemisches Institut, Freiburg, D-79104, Germany
Kaye P Hart
Affiliation:
kph@ansto.gov.au, Australian Nuclear Science and Technology Organisation, PMB 1, Menai, 2234, Australia
Gregory R Lumpkin
Affiliation:
grl@ansto.gov.au, Australian Nuclear Science and Technology Organisation, PMB 1, Menai, 2234, Australia
Peter J McGlinn
Affiliation:
pjm@ansto.gov.au, Australian Nuclear Science and Technology Organisation, PMB 1, Menai, 2234, Australia
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Abstract

Chemical extraction techniques and scanning electron microscopy were used to study the distribution and behavior of actinides and rare earth elements (REE) in hydrothermal veins at Adamello, (Italy). The six samples discussed in this paper were from the phlogopite zone, which is one of the major vein zones. The samples were similar in their bulk chemical composition, mineralogy, and leaching behavior of major elements (determined by extraction with 9M HCl). However, there were major differences in the extractability of REE and actinides. The most significant influence on the leaching characteristics appears to be the amounts of U, Th and REE incorporated in resistant host phases. Uranium and Th are very highly enriched in zirconolite grains. Actinides were more readily leached from samples with a higher content of U and Th, relative to the amount of zirconolite. The results show that REE and actinides present in chemically resistant minerals can be retained under aggressive leaching conditions.

Keywords

actinideZrgeologic
Type
Research Article
Information
MRS Online Proceedings Library (OPL) , Volume 985: Symposium NN – Scientific Basis for Nuclear Waste Management XXX , 2006 , 0985-NN11-05
Copyright
Copyright © Materials Research Society 2007

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References

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