Abstract
X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) was used to study samples from the Cigar Lake uranium deposit in northern Saskatchewan. Two uranium-rich sections, CS-615 and CS-620 were studied. Peaks due to U, O, C, Pb, Si, Ca, Al, S, Cu and Th were seen in the XPS spectra. Concentrations of Pb of up to 14 wt% were measured by XPS and correspond to the Pb ingrowth by radioactive decay during the 1.3 billion years since the ore was formed. High-resolution spectra were recorded for the U, Pb, O, and C bands. Lead was in the +2 oxidation state in all samples. The carbon signal indicated the presence of organic carbon, while the oxygen bands indicated the presence of significant amounts of water in the samples. The samples from the CS-615 section had U6+/U4+ ratios between 0.16 and 0.29. However, the U6+/U4+ ratios for section CS-620 were about 0.7 but this is attributed to oxidation of the ore by water during the drilling and cutting processes. The significance of the results for disposal concepts in nuclear fuel waste management programs is discussed.
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Sunder, S., Cramer, J.J. & Miller, N.H. X-RAY Photoelectron Spectroscopic Study of Cigar Lake Uranium Ore: A Natural Analog for Used Fuel. MRS Online Proceedings Library 257, 449–457 (1991). https://doi.org/10.1557/PROC-257-449
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1557/PROC-257-449