Potential aquifer vulnerability in regions down-gradient from uranium in situ recovery (ISR) sites

Saunders, James A.; Pivetz, Bruce; Voorhies, Nathan; Wilkin, Richard T.

doi:10.1016/j.jenvman.2016.08.049

Cited by 54 publications

(34 citation statements)

References 94 publications

(126 reference statements)

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“…Else acid, a relatively dilute solution containing sulfuric acid, is used. Injection of sulfuric acid into the subsurface drastically alters the groundwater geochemistry (Saunders et al, 2016). The leachate, commonly at pH values b 2, dissolves minerals and mobilizes metals, thereby increasing the concentrations of dissolved solids in groundwater.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Microbial communities associated with uranium in-situ recovery mining process are related to acid mine drainage assemblages

Coral

Descostes

Boissezon

et al. 2018

Science of The Total Environment

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A large fraction (47%) of the world's uranium is mined by a technique called "In Situ Recovery" (ISR). This mining technique involves the injection of a leaching fluid (acidic or alkaline) into a uranium-bearing aquifer and the pumping of the resulting solution through cation exchange columns for the recovery of dissolved uranium. The present study reports the in-depth alterations brought to autochthonous microbial communities during acidic ISR activities. Water samples were collected from a uranium roll-front deposit that is part of an ISR mine in operation (Tortkuduk, Kazakhstan). Water samples were obtained at a depth of ca 500 m below ground level from several zones of the Uyuk aquifer following the natural redox zonation inherited from the roll front deposit, including the native mineralized orebody and both upstream and downstream adjacent locations. Samples were collected equally from both the entrance and the exit of the uranium concentration plant. Next-generation sequencing data showed that the redox gradient shaped the community structures, within the anaerobic, reduced, and oligotrophic habitats of the native aquifer zones. Acid injection induced drastic changes in the structures of these communities, with a large decrease in both cell numbers and diversity. Communities present in the acidified (pH values < 2) mining areas exhibited similarities to those present in acid mine drainage, with the dominance of Sulfobacillus sp., Leptospirillum sp. and Acidithiobacillus sp., as well as the archaean Ferroplasma sp. Communities located up- and downstream of the mineralized zone under ISR and affected by acidic fluids were blended with additional facultative anaerobic and acidophilic microorganisms. These mixed biomes may be suitable communities for the natural attenuation of ISR mining-affected subsurface through the reduction of metals and sulfate. Assessing the effect of acidification on the microbial community is critical to evaluating the potential for natural attenuation or active bioremediation strategies.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Microbial communities associated with uranium in-situ recovery mining process are related to acid mine drainage assemblages

Coral

Descostes

Boissezon

et al. 2018

Science of The Total Environment

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“…It has become one of the standard production methods, with a share exceeding 50% of world uranium production in 2014 (IAEA 2016). The technique is particularly suited for large ore bodies, at intermediate depth and low concentrations, like roll-front deposits (Dahlkamp 1993;Kyser 2014;Saunders et al 2016). High permeability and presence of confining formations for the deposit are also desirable.…”

Section: In Situ Recoverymentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Therefore, the remaining leaching solutions within the aquifer can be considered as the main source of chemicals of interest to be treated. Stakeholders are rightfully cautious about operators' capacity to guarantee aquifer quality after the end of exploitation (Mudd 2001;Saunders et al 2016). Modeling can play a role to help demonstrate that post-exploitation environmental targets can be reached.…”

Section: Simulation To Minimize Environmental Impactmentioning

confidence: 99%

Industrial Deployment of Reactive Transport Simulation: An Application to Uranium In situ Recovery

Lagneau

Regnault

Descostes

2019

Reviews in Mineralogy and Geochemistry

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“…An example of the redox behaviour of uranium is sandstone-hosted uranium deposits formed by groundwater flow with low concentrations of uranium reaching a redox barrier where the U(VI) is reduced to U(IV) and accumulates as an ore-body. These deposits are now commonly extracted by in situ recovery with injection of an oxidising solution forming U(VI) and preferably forming an uncharged complex [62]:…”

Section: Uraniummentioning

confidence: 99%

Redox Reactions in Groundwater with Health Implications

Jacks¹

2017

Redox - Principles and Advanced Applications

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Mobilisation into groundwater of many trace elements are redox dependant and of health concern. A short list includes arsenic, manganese, chromium, selenium, nitrogen as nitrate and uranium. Arsenic is mobile in groundwater essentially under two conditions, under reducing conditions mobilising ferrous iron and arsenite and at high pH when the ferric oxyhydroxides lose their positive charge. Manganese is mobilised under moderately reducing conditions as Mn2+ and might affect the mental capacity at chronic exposure from drinking water. Chromium is mobile as carcinogenic chromate under oxidising conditions. Manganese oxides may oxidise Cr(III) solids. Chromium may come from natural as well as anthropogenic sources. Selenium, an essential element, rarely exceeds permissible limits but irrigation with groundwater with elevated selenium could cause toxic selenium intake via food. Selenium is mobile in groundwater under oxidising conditions. Nitrate from excess use of fertilisers may be a problem for bottle-fed children below the age of 1 year, forming methaemoglobinemia. Uranium is mobile under oxidising conditions as U(VI). Mobility and toxicity depends on numerous factors. The threat from uranium is its effect on the readsorption in the kidney of water and salts from the primary urine. Oxidation state and speciation govern uranium mobility.

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Potential aquifer vulnerability in regions down-gradient from uranium in situ recovery (ISR) sites

Cited by 54 publications

References 94 publications

Microbial communities associated with uranium in-situ recovery mining process are related to acid mine drainage assemblages

Microbial communities associated with uranium in-situ recovery mining process are related to acid mine drainage assemblages

Industrial Deployment of Reactive Transport Simulation: An Application to Uranium In situ Recovery

Redox Reactions in Groundwater with Health Implications

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