Elemental Mapping for Characterizing of Thorium and Rare Earth Elements (REE) Bearing Minerals Using µXRF

Abstract

Thorium (Th) anomaly was found in Adang Volcanic Complexes, Mamuju Area, West Sulawesi. This element is associated with high-value elements, the rare earth elements (REE). The minerals containing Th and REE were found in veins mineralization with various types of minerals which are very difficult to identify by conventional method. This research aims to understand the distribution and characterization of Th and REE in individual minerals, using Micro X-Ray Fluorescence (µXRF) analysis and completed by Advanced Minerals Identification and Characterization System (AMICS) software. The samples were collected from vein mineralization in Hulu Mamuju Sector. The contents of Th and REE that were analyzed using X-Ray Fluorescence (XRF) completed by Inductively Coupled Plasma Mass Spectrometry (ICP-MS) are 11,550-74,480 ppm and 6,244.15-48,036.87 ppm, respectively. The minerals that contain Th and REE are britholite ((Ce,Ca) 5 (SiO 4 ) 3 OH), aeschynite (Ce,Ca,Fe,Th)(Ti,Nb) 2 (O,OH) 6 , cerite (Ce,Ca) 9 (Mg,Fe)(SiO 4 ) 3 (HSiO 4 ) 4 (OH) 3 , monazite (REE,Th(PO 4 )), thorite (Th(SiO 4 )), and thorutite (Th,U,Ca)Ti 2 (O,OH) 6 associated with other minerals such as pyrite, actinolite, apatite, ilmenite, hematite, zircon and ankerite. Some minerals are uncommon minerals and are only characterized by detailed elemental mapping. The variety of minerals shows the condition of mineralization influenced by carbonatite magma and the hydrothermal process of mineralization.

Uranium Isotope Characterization in Volcanic Deposits in a High Natural Background Radiation Area, Mamuju, Indonesia

“…Hulu Mamuju is characterized by phonolitoid lava and autobreccia of the Mamuju volcano. Monazite, thorutite, and britholite are primary uranium in the vein [14] distributed in Mamuju lava. The uranium isotope ratios, measured from samples BM02 to BM08, range from 0.93 to 0.98 (Table 2).…”

“…The areas with high radiation dose rates in Mamuju are highly consistent with the distribution of the Adang volcanic deposits [2,[4][5][6][9][10][11][12]. Some uranium and thorium minerals in this region are found in the form of davidite ((U,Ce,Fe) 2 (Ti,Fe,V,Cr) 5 O 12 ), thorianite (Th 2 O), gummite (UO 3 .nH 2 O), autunite (CaO.2UO 3 .P 2 O 5 .8H 2 O) [13], britholite ((Ce,Ca) 5 (SiO 4 ) 3 OH), aeschynite (Ce,Ca,Fe,Th)(Ti,Nb) 2 (O,OH) 6 , monazite (REE,ThPO 4 ), thorite (ThSiO 4 ), and thorutite (Th,U,Ca)Ti 2 (O,OH) 6 [14]. The enrichment process of the radioactive element (uranium and thorium) during fractional crystallization of Adang volcanic rocks is indicated by the increase in uranium and thorium levels in the rock.…”

Mineralogical Distribution and Characteristics of Fe-, Ti-, and V-Bearing Beach Ironsand Deposit in Adikarto Bay Kulonprogo, Yogyakarta, Indonesia

“…This method uses the M4 Tornado devices and AMICS software (Advanced Mineral Identification and Characterization System). Advance analysis using The AMICS software can identify mineral groups (mixtures) and a single mineral in each sample and also give results for mineral identification with the characterization of elements set spectrum in every single pixel [11]. The sample scanning process uses measurement resolution (pixel size: 20 μm) on glass preparations (Figure 2C) surface with the mapping area of 15x25 mm and the relative error percentage range between 0-0.01%.…”

Characterization of Metapelite and Metasiltstone as Uranium-REE hosted rocks in Rirang Area, West Kalimantan

“…This method could identify mineral groups and a single mineral in each sample because each specific mineral has a composition characteristic represented by the backscattered electron images generated from µXRF analysis. Mineralization and genesis of some minerals could be identified using AMICS due to its characteristics to quickly identify minerals carrying U, REE, and trace elements [17]. µXRF and AMICS analyses were carried out at the Research Center for Nuclear Fuel Cycle and Radioactive Waste Technology, The National Research and Innovation Agency, Indonesia.…”