Characterization of uranium in soil samples from a prospective uranium mining in Serule, Botswana for nuclear forensic application

Abstract

This study attempts a nuclear forensic characterization of uranium in soil samples from a prospective Serule mine in Botswana. The analysis involves the determination of forensic signatures found in uranium-bearing materials from the mine. These signatures include 232 Th activity concentration, isotopic and activity ratios of 232 Th/ 238 U and 235 U/ 238 U, impurity concentration, rare earth elements (REE), as well as the mineralogy of the area, all of which were determined using both Inductively Coupled Plasma Mass Spectroscopy (ICP-MS) and X-ray Florescence (XRF) analytical techniques. Isotopic ratios determined reveal that there is a significant difference in the isotopic concentration, activity concentration of 232 Th, 238 U, and 235 U, as well as the 232 Th/ 238 U isotope ratio between the uranium ores from each mine. The REE/chondrite analysis indicates clear patterns, suggesting that it is possible to use this feature as a unique identifier for Serule uranium ore source.

Natural Radioactivity in Soil and Radiological Risk Assessment in Lișava Uranium Mining Sector, Banat Mountains, Romania

“…The occurring radionuclides present in all types of rocks, soils, waters and air in uranium mining perimeters consist mainly of the natural radioactive decay series of 238 U, 232 Th and 40 K [4][5][6]. The distribution of and variation in radionuclides in surface soil depend on the composition and distribution of radioelements in the bedrock and their physical and mechanical properties (porosity, permeability) [7]. Likewise, the concentrations of natural radioactive elements in soils depend on additional factors such as the stability of the primary radioactive-material-bearing minerals to weathering, the presence of a clay phase, the organic matter content and the physico-chemical characteristics of the soils, as well as the specific geochemical characteristics of uranium, thorium and potassium [4,5,8].…”

Design and applications of anti-management model in China’s primary refineries

“…In 2010, BP in the United States had a drilling blowout accident in the Gulf of Mexico, which caused 11 deaths and severe environmental pollution (Jingkai, 2011). In addition to the abovementioned hazards, the safety impact of the emissions from the refinery on the soil is also worthy of attention, such as Liteboho Ntsohi, Iyabo Usman, Risimati Mavunda & Oscar Kureba (Ntsohi et al, 2021) detected the characteristics of uranium in soil samples from the Serule uranium mine in Botswana, and provided Research data for nuclear radiation safety applications. This shows that a certain amount of toxic emissions is sufficient to cause a certain amount of harm to personnel.…”