Uranium content and leachable fraction of fluorspars
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Abstract
Much attention in the radiological health community has recently focused on the management and regulation of naturally occurring radioactive materials. Although uranium-bearing minerals are present in a variety of fluorspar deposits, their potential consideration as naturally occurring radioactive materials has received only limited recognition. The uranium content of 28 samples of acid- and cryolite-grade (> 97% CaF2) fluorspar from the National Defense Stockpile was found to range from 120 to 24,200 μg kg−1, with a mean of 2,145 μg kg−1. As a point of comparison, the average concentration of uranium in the upper crust of the earth is about 2,500 μg kg−1. Leachability of this uranium was assessed by means of the Toxicity Characteristic Leaching Procedure (TCLP). The TCLP extractable fraction ranged from 1 to 98%, with a mean of 24% of the total uranium. The typically low concentrations of uranium seen in these materials probably reflects the removal of uranium-bearing mineral phases during the beneficiation of the crude fluorspar ore to achieve industrial specifications. Future NORM studies should examine crude fluorspar ores and flotation tailings.
Suggested Citation
Landa, E.R., Councell, T., 2000, Uranium content and leachable fraction of fluorspars: Health Physics, v. 79, no. 3, p. 286-290, https://doi.org/10.1097/00004032-200009000-00009.
| Publication type | Article |
|---|---|
| Publication Subtype | Journal Article |
| Title | Uranium content and leachable fraction of fluorspars |
| Series title | Health Physics |
| DOI | 10.1097/00004032-200009000-00009 |
| Volume | 79 |
| Issue | 3 |
| Year Published | 2000 |
| Language | English |
| Publisher | Kluwer |
| Contributing office(s) | Toxic Substances Hydrology Program |
| Description | 5 p. |
| First page | 286 |
| Last page | 290 |