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The morphologies and compositions of depleted uranium particles from an environmental case-study

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  05 July 2018

N. S. Lloyd ,
J. F. W. Mosselmans ,
R. R. Parrish ,
S. R. N. Chenery ,
S. V. Hainsworth  and
S. J. Kemp
N. S. Lloyd*
Affiliation:
Department of Geology, University of Leicester, University Road, Leicester LE1 7RH, UK
J. F. W. Mosselmans
Affiliation:
Diamond Light Source Ltd., Diamond House, Chilton, Didcot DE0 11OX, UK
R. R. Parrish
Affiliation:
Department of Geology, University of Leicester, University Road, Leicester LE1 7RH, UK NIGL, Kingsley Dunham Centre, Keyworth, Nottingham NG12 5GG, UK
S. R. N. Chenery
Affiliation:
British Geological Survey, Kingsley Dunham Centre, Keyworth, Nottingham NG12 5GG, UK
S. V. Hainsworth
Affiliation:
Department of Engineering, University of Leicester, University Road, Leicester LE1 7RH, UK
S. J. Kemp
Affiliation:
British Geological Survey, Kingsley Dunham Centre, Keyworth, Nottingham NG12 5GG, UK
*
* E-mail: [email protected]
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Abstract

Uraniferous particles from contaminated environmental samples were analysed by scanning electron microscopy with energy dispersive X-ray analysis (SEM-EDXA) and microfocus extended X-ray absorption fine structure (mEXAFS) spectroscopy. The particles of interest are uranium oxides, which were released into the environment by the combustion of scrap depleted uranium (DU) metal at a factory in Colonie, New York, USA. Most of the identified particles appear to have primary, ‘as emitted’ morphologies; some have evidence of minor dissolution, including corrosion pitting. Polycrystalline and often hollow microscopic spheres were identified, which are similar to particles produced by DU munitions impacting armoured targets. They are attributed to the autothermic oxidation of melt droplets. The compositions of the analysed spheres are dominated by UO2+x with variable amounts of U3O8, two of the least soluble and least bioaccessible phases of U. These particles, collected from dusts and soils, have survived more than 25 y in the terrestrial environment. This study further supports the case for using Colonie as an analogue for battlefield DU contamination.

Keywords

depleted uraniumDUuranium oxideparticlesmorphologyEXAFSSEMenvironmentalmineralogybioaccessibility.
Type
Research Article
Information
Mineralogical Magazine , Volume 73 , Issue 3 , June 2009 , pp. 495 - 510
Copyright
Copyright © The Mineralogical Society of Great Britain and Ireland 2009

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