Hostname: page-component-7479d7b7d-m9pkr Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-07-13T21:53:19.096Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false

Uranium Mineral – Groundwater Equilibration at the Palmottu Natural Analogue Study Site, Finland

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  01 January 1992

Lasse Ahonen
Affiliation:
Geological Survey of Finland, SF-02150 ESPOO, Finland
H. Ervanne
Affiliation:
University of Helsinki, Department of Radiochemistry, SF-00170 Helsinki, Finland
T. Ruskeeniemi
Affiliation:
Geological Survey of Finland, SF-02150 ESPOO, Finland
T. Jaakkola
Affiliation:
University of Helsinki, Department of Radiochemistry, SF-00170 Helsinki, Finland
R. Blomqvist
Affiliation:
Geological Survey of Finland, SF-02150 ESPOO, Finland
Get access

Abstract

The redox-potential, pH, chemical composition of fracture waters, and uraninite alteration associated with the Palmottu uranium mineralization, have been studied. The data have been interpreted by means of thermodynamic calculations. The results indicate equilibrium between uraninite, ferric hydroxide and groundwater in the bedrock of the study site. Partially oxidized uraninite (UO2.33) and ferric hydroxide are in equilibrium with the fresh, slightly acidic and oxidized water type, while primary uraninite is stable with deeper waters that have a higher pH and lower Eh. Measured Eh-pH values of groundwater cluster within a relatively narrow range indicating buffering by heterogenous redox-processes. A good consistency between measured Eh and analyzed uranium oxidation states was observed.

Type
Research Article
Copyright
Copyright © Materials Research Society 1993

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. Peltonen, E.K., Ryhinen, V., Salo, J.-P., Vieno, T.K. and Vuori, S.J., in Siting. Design and Construction of Underground Repositories for Radioactive Wastes (IAEA Proc. series, 289, Vienna, 1986)Google Scholar
2. Blomqvist, R., Halonen, S., Rdisdnen, E., Suutarinen, R., Jaakkola, T., and Suksi, J., Geol. Surv. Finland, Rep. YST-60 (1987).Google Scholar
3. Suksi, J., Ahonen, L., and Niini, H. (eds.), Geol. Surv. Finland, Rep. YST-78 (1992).Google Scholar
4. Baas Becking, L.G.M., Kaplan, I.R. and Moore, D., J. Geol. 68, 243 (1960).Google Scholar
5. Nordstrom, D.K., Jenne, E.A. and Ball, J.W., in Chemical Modeling in Aqueous Systems, edited by Jenne, E.A., (Amer. Chem. Soc. Symp. Ser., Washington D.C., 1979).Google Scholar
6. Lindberg, R.D. and Runnels, D.D., Science 225, 926 (1984).Google Scholar
7. Nordstrom, D.K. and Puigdomenech, I., SKB Technical Report 86-03 (1986), (Swedish Nuclear Fuel and Waste Management Co).Google Scholar
8. Grenthe, I., Stumm, W., Laaksoharju, M., Nilson, A.-C., and Wikberg, P., Chem. Geol. 98, 131 (1992).Google Scholar
9. Laaksoharju, M., Ahonen, L., Blomqvist, R., Geol. Surv. Finland, Rep. YST-74 (1991).Google Scholar
10. Suutarinen, R., Blomqvist, R., Halonen, S., Jaakkola, T., Radiochim. Acta 52/53, 373 (1991).Google Scholar
11. Sill, C.W. and Williams, R.L., Anal. Chem. 53, 412 (1981).Google Scholar
12. Andersson, R.F., Nucl. Instrum. Methods Phys. Res. 223, 213 (1984).Google Scholar
13. Benoit, P.H., Amer. Mineral. 72, 1018 (1987).Google Scholar
14. Grenthe, I., Fuger, J., Lemire, R.J., Muller, A.B., Nguyen-Trung, C., and Wanner, H., (eds.), Chemical Thermodynamics of Uranium (Elsevier Science Publishers, Amsterdam, 1992), p. 800.Google Scholar
15. Nordstrom, D.K., Plummer, L.N., Langmuir, D., Busenberg, E., May, H.M., Jones, B.F. and Parkhurst, D.L., in Chemical Modelling of Aqueous Systems II, edited by Melchior, D.C. and Bassett, R.L., (Amer. Chem. Soc. Symp. Ser., Washington D.C., 1990), pp. 398-413.Google Scholar
16. Parkhurst, S.L., Thorstenson, D.C. and Plummer, N.L., U.S. Geol, Surv. Report No. PB81-167801, (1980).Google Scholar
17. Brookins, D.G., Eh-pH Diagrams for Geochemistry (Springer Verlag, Berlin Heidelberg, 1988).Google Scholar
18. Nordstrom, D.K. and Munoz, J. L., Geochemical Thermodynamics (The Benjamin / Cummings Publishing Co., Inc., Menlo Park, 1985).Google Scholar
19. Jaakkola, T., Suksi, J., Suutarinen, R., Niini, H., Ruskeeniemi, T., Soderholm, B., Vesterinen, M., Blomqvist, R., Halonen, S., and Lindberg, A., Geol. Surv. Finl., Rep. YST-64 (1989).Google Scholar
20. Ruskeeniemi, T., Niini, H., Séderholm, B., Vesterinen, M., Blomqvist, R., Halonen, S., Lindberg, A., Jaakkola, T., Suksi, J., and Suutarinen, R., in Proc. 6th. Int. Symp. Water- Rock Interaction, edited by Miles, D.L., (A.A. Balkema, Rotterdam, 1989) pp. 601604 Google Scholar
21. Blomqvist, R., Pilvié, R., Ahonen, L., and Ruskeeniemi, T., Geol. Surv. Finland, Rep. YST-78, 33 (1992).Google Scholar
22. Alexseyev, V. A., Anan'yeva, L.A., and Rafal'skiy, R.P., Int. Geol. Rev. 23, 1229 (1981).Google Scholar
23. Haji-Vassiliou, A., Mineral. Rec. 5, 79 (1974).Google Scholar
24. Smits, G., Can. Mineral., 27, 643 (1989).Google Scholar
25. Janeczek, J., N. Jb. Miner. Mh. 1991, 385.Google Scholar
26. Morris, J. and Stumm, W., in Equilibrium Concepts in Natural Water Systems, edited by Gould, R.F., (Adv. Chem. Ser. 67, 1967) pp. 270285 Google Scholar
27. Beaucaire, C. and Toalhoat, P., Appl. Geochem. 2, 417 (1987).Google Scholar
28. Granger, H.C. and Warren, C.G., Econ. Geol. 64, 160 (1969).Google Scholar
29. Goldhaber, M., Am. J. Sci. 283, 193 (1983).Google Scholar
30. Macalady, D.L., Langmuir, D., Grundl, T., and Elzerman, A., in Chemical Modeling of Aqueous Systems II, edited by Melchior, D.C. and Bassett, R.L., (Amer. Chem. Soc. Symp. Ser., Washington D.C., 1990), p. 350.Google Scholar
31. Ahonen, L., Blomqvist, R., Ruskeeniemi, T., Vesterinen, M., and Pitkdnen, P., in Proc. 7th. Int. Symp. Water-Rock Interaction, edited by Kharaka, Y.K. and Maest, A.S., (A.A. Balkema, Rotterdam, 1992) pp. 763766 Google Scholar
32. Laxen, P. A., in The Recovery of Uranium (IAEA Proc. series 135, Vienna, 1971).Google Scholar
33. Dutrizac, J.E. and MacDonald, R.J.C., Minerals Sci. Engineering 6, 59 (1974).Google Scholar
34. Finch, R. and Ewing, R., SKB Technical Report 91-15 (1990), (Swedish Nuclear Fuel and Waste Management Co).Google Scholar