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Mobility of Uranium, Thorium and Lanthanides Around the Bangombe Natural Reactor (Gabon)

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  15 February 2011

R. Bros ,
F. Gauthier-Lafaye ,
P. Larque ,
J. Samuel  and
P. Stille
R. Bros
Affiliation:
CEA, CEN Cadarache, DCC/DSD/SCS, Bat. 307, 13108 Saint Paul-lez-Durance, France
F. Gauthier-Lafaye
Affiliation:
CNRS, CGS, 1, rue Blessig, 67000 Strasbourg, France.
P. Larque
Affiliation:
CNRS, CGS, 1, rue Blessig, 67000 Strasbourg, France.
J. Samuel
Affiliation:
CNRS, CGS, 1, rue Blessig, 67000 Strasbourg, France.
P. Stille
Affiliation:
CNRS, CGS, 1, rue Blessig, 67000 Strasbourg, France.
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Abstract

New mineralogical and isotopic studies were carried out on samples from the Bangombé natural nuclear reactor. This reactor is located at shallow depth in the weathering profile and has been subjected to severe supergene alteration. Textural evidence indicates partial dissolution of uraninite in the Bangombé ore related to precipitation of Fe-Ti oxi-hydroxides and clay minerals (kaolinite and metahalloysite). As a consequence of the alteration of the uraninite, uranium and f issiogenic rare earth elements were released in the clayey border of the reactor, whereas radiogenic 232Th remained confined in the close vicinity of the core. A retention effect is also evidenced, under reducing conditions, in the black shales located above the reactor.

Type
Research Article
Information
MRS Online Proceedings Library (OPL) , Volume 353: Symposium – Scientific Basis for Nuclear Waste Management XVIII , 1994 , 1187
Copyright
Copyright © Materials Research Society 1995

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References

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