Variations in 238U/235U in uranium ore deposits: Isotopic signatures of the U reduction process?

Abstract

Research Article| July 01, 2009 Variations in 238U/235U in uranium ore deposits: Isotopic signatures of the U reduction process? Charles John Bopp, IV; Charles John Bopp, IV 1University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Department of Geology, 245 Natural History Building, 1301 West Green Street, Urbana, Illinois 61801, USA Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar Craig C. Lundstrom; Craig C. Lundstrom 1University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Department of Geology, 245 Natural History Building, 1301 West Green Street, Urbana, Illinois 61801, USA Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar Thomas M. Johnson; Thomas M. Johnson 1University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Department of Geology, 245 Natural History Building, 1301 West Green Street, Urbana, Illinois 61801, USA Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar Justin J.G. Glessner Justin J.G. Glessner 1University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Department of Geology, 245 Natural History Building, 1301 West Green Street, Urbana, Illinois 61801, USA Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar Author and Article Information Charles John Bopp, IV 1University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Department of Geology, 245 Natural History Building, 1301 West Green Street, Urbana, Illinois 61801, USA Craig C. Lundstrom 1University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Department of Geology, 245 Natural History Building, 1301 West Green Street, Urbana, Illinois 61801, USA Thomas M. Johnson 1University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Department of Geology, 245 Natural History Building, 1301 West Green Street, Urbana, Illinois 61801, USA Justin J.G. Glessner 1University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Department of Geology, 245 Natural History Building, 1301 West Green Street, Urbana, Illinois 61801, USA Publisher: Geological Society of America Received: 03 Oct 2008 Revision Received: 08 Feb 2009 Accepted: 12 Feb 2009 First Online: 02 Mar 2017 Online ISSN: 1943-2682 Print ISSN: 0091-7613 © 2009 Geological Society of America Geology (2009) 37 (7): 611–614. https://doi.org/10.1130/G25550A.1 Article history Received: 03 Oct 2008 Revision Received: 08 Feb 2009 Accepted: 12 Feb 2009 First Online: 02 Mar 2017 Cite View This Citation Add to Citation Manager Share Icon Share Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Permissions Search Site Citation Charles John Bopp, Craig C. Lundstrom, Thomas M. Johnson, Justin J.G. Glessner; Variations in 238U/235U in uranium ore deposits: Isotopic signatures of the U reduction process?. Geology 2009;; 37 (7): 611–614. doi: https://doi.org/10.1130/G25550A.1 Download citation file: Ris (Zotero) Refmanager EasyBib Bookends Mendeley Papers EndNote RefWorks BibTex toolbar search Search Dropdown Menu toolbar search search input Search input auto suggest filter your search All ContentBy SocietyGeology Search Advanced Search Abstract The ability to measure 238U/235U to high precision presents an important new opportunity to study the fate and transport of uranium in the environment. The ratio of 238U/235U was determined by multicollector–inductively coupled plasma–mass spectrometer in six uranium ore samples representing two different classes of deposits. Significant offsets in 238U/235U are observed between uranium ores precipitated from groundwaters at low temperature versus hydrothermal deposits precipitated at high temperatures, reinforcing an observation made previously but lacking the needed precision. Specifically, tabular sandstone-type uranium deposits were found to be depleted in 235U, with a total offset between low-temperature deposits and higher temperature deposits of ≈1.0‰. We attribute this offset to reflect a temperature-dependent fractionation related to the nuclear field shift effect during chemical reduction of uranium in ambient temperature groundwaters. You do not have access to this content, please speak to your institutional administrator if you feel you should have access.