Hostname: page-component-8448b6f56d-sxzjt Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-04-18T06:07:06.026Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false

Coffinitization - A Mechanism for the Alteration of UO2 under Reducing Conditions

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  25 February 2011

J. Janeczek
Affiliation:
on leave from the Silesian University, WNoZ, Mielczarskiego 60, 41-200 Sosnowiec, Poland
R.C. Ewing
Affiliation:
Department of Geology, University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, NM 87131-1116, USA
Get access

Abstract

A structural and chemical analogue of UO2 in spent fuel, uraninite, UO2+x, is unstable in the presence of dissolved silica (>10-3.6 mg/L) under reducing conditions and transforms into coffinite, USiO4 nH20. Coffinite may incorporate numerous elements into its structure including actinides and fission products. Conditions favorable for coffinitization of UO2 in spent fuel may occur in repositories in granitic, basaltic, and tuffaceous rocks.

Type
Research Article
Copyright
Copyright © Materials Research Society 1992

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

REFERENCES

1. Stieff, L.R., Stem, T.W. and Sherwood, A.M., Amer. Mineral. 41, 675688 (1956).Google Scholar
2. Fuchs, L.H. and Gebert, E., Amer. Mineral. 43, 243248 (1958).Google Scholar
3. Dubinchuk, V.T., Naumova, I.S., Kravtsova, I.Yu. and Sidorenko, G.A., Mineral. Zhurnal 3, 8185 (1981).Google Scholar
4. Spear, J.A., in Orthosilicates, edited by Ribbe, P.H.. Rev. Mineral. 5, (1980) pp. 113135.Google Scholar
5. Mulak, J., J. Solid State Chem., 21, 117126 (1977)Google Scholar
6. Smits, G., Canad. Mineral. 22, 643655 (1989).Google Scholar
7. Pointer, C. M., Ashworth, J.R. and Ixer, R.A., Mineral.Petrol. (Tschermaks) 38, 245262 (1988).Google Scholar
8. Hansley, P.L. and Fitzpatrick, J.J., Amer. Mineral. 74, 263270 (1989).Google Scholar
9. Belova, L.N., Gorshkov, A.I., Ivanova, O.A. and Sivtsov, A.V., Dokl. Earth Sci. Sections 255,156158 (1982).Google Scholar
10. Janeczek, J., N.Jb.Miner.Mh. (in press 1991).Google Scholar
11. Ludwig, K.R. and Grauch, R.I., Econ.Geol. 75, 296302 (1980).Google Scholar
12. Belova, L.N., Tananaeva, G.A. and Frolov, K.F., Sov.AtomicEnergy 22, 751752 (1969)CrossRefGoogle Scholar
13. Goldhaber, M.B., U.S. Geol. Survey Open-File Report 72-798, pp.25 (1977).Google Scholar
14. Nord, G.L., U.S. Geol. Survey Circular 753, 2931 (1977).Google Scholar
15. Fuchs, L.H. and Hoekstra, H.R., Amer.Mineral. 44, 10571063 (1959).Google Scholar
16. Abdel-Gawrad, A.M. and Kerr, P.F., Amer.Mineral. 46, 402419 (1961).Google Scholar
17. Ramhdohr, P., The ore minerals and their intergrowths (Pergamon Press, New York 1980) pp. 1207.Google Scholar
18. Dymkov, Yu.M., Priroda uranovoy smol'anoy rudy. (Atomizdat, Moskva 1973).Google Scholar
19. Sims, P.K., Young, E.J. and Sharp, W.N., U.S. Geol. Survey Prof. Papers 424–B, 35 (1963).Google Scholar
20. Ramdohr, P., N.Jb.Miner. Abh., 95(3), 313324 (1961).Google Scholar
21. Mochnacka, K., Bull. de L'Acad.Pol. des Sci. Serie des sci.geol. et geogr. 13(2), 113117 (1965).Google Scholar
22. Pointer, C.M., Ashworth, J.R. and Simpson, P.R., Mineral.Deposita 24, 117123 (1989).CrossRefGoogle Scholar
23. Brodin, B.V., Sidorenko, G.A. and Dubinchuk, V.T., Internat. Geology Rev. 22(2), 174182 (1980).Google Scholar
24. Nakae, N., Harada, A. and Kirihara, T., J. Nucl. Mater. 71, 314319 (1978).Google Scholar
25. Dymkov, Yu.M. and Nazarenko, N.G., Geochemistry 4, 348358 (1962).Google Scholar
26. Dubinchuk, V.T., Pen'kov, V.F., Uspenskiy, V.A., Avdonin, A.S. and Shevchenko, V.N., Geokhimiya 2, 283288 (1977).Google Scholar
27. Dubinchuk, V.T., Rasulova, S.D. and G.D, and Trostyanskii, Litologiya i Poleznye Iskopaemye 6, 2736 (1982).Google Scholar
28. Leroy, J. and Holliger, P., Chem.Geology 45 (1-2), 121134 (1984).Google Scholar
29. Bultemann, H.W. and Hofmann, R., in Ore genesis the state of art, edited by Amstutz, G.C. (Springer, 1982) pp. 426433.Google Scholar
30. Scharm, B., Burda, J., Hogretr, V., Sulovsky, P. and Scharmova, M., Casopis pro miner, a geol. 25(2), 113124 (1980).Google Scholar
31. Dolezhel, M., Egorov, V.S., Zavarzin, A.V., Nikolrskiy, A.L. and Romanidis, K., Geol. Rudnykh Mestorozhdenii 6 4252 (1975).Google Scholar
32. Brookins, D.G., in IAEA-TC- 119 (Intemat. Atomic Energy Agency, Paris 1978) pp. 243262.Google Scholar
33. Langmuir, D., Geochim. Cosmochim. Acta 42, 547569 (1978).Google Scholar
34. Janeczek, J. and Ewing, R.C., J.Nucl. Mater. 184, 112 (1991).Google Scholar
35. Leroy, J., Econ. Geol. 73, 16111634 (1978).Google Scholar
36. Hemingway, B.S., U.S. Geol. Survey Open-File Report 82-619, pp. 60 (1982).Google Scholar
37. Goldhaber, M.B., Hemingway, B.S., Monagheghi, A., Reynolds, R.L. and Northrop, H.R., Bull. Mindral. 110, 131144 (1987).Google Scholar
38. Jaakkola, T., Suksi, J., Suutarinen, R., Niini, H., Ruskeeniemi, T., Soderholm, B. and Vesterinen, M., Geol. Survey of Finland Report YST- 64, pp. 60 (1989).Google Scholar
39. Cramer, J.J. and Smellie, J., AECL/SKB Cigar Lake Project. Progress report for the period May-December 1990. Whiteshell Research (1991).Google Scholar
40. Cramer, J.J., Chem. Geol. D, 269–279 (1986).Google Scholar
41. Bates, J.K., Tani, B.S., Veleckis, E. and Wronkiewicz, D.J., in Scientific Basis for Nuclear Waste Management XIII, edited by Oversby, V.M. and Brown, P.W. (Mat.Res.Soc. Symp. Proc.) vol. 84, p. 161171 (1990).Google Scholar
42. Uziemblo, N.H., Thomas, L.E., Shoenlein, L.H., Mastel, B. and Jenson, E.D., in Scientific Basis for Nuclear Waste Management X, edited by Bates, J.K. and Seefelt, W.S. (Mat.Res.Soc.Symp.Proc.) vol. 84, p.161171 (1987).Google Scholar
43. Simova, F.G., Dokl. Bulg. Akad. Nauk, 37, 13591361 (1984).Google Scholar