Diagenetic formation of uranium-silica polymers in lake sediments over 3,300 years

The long-term fate of uranium-contaminated sediments, especially downstream former mining areas, is a widespread environmental challenge. Essential for their management is the proper understanding of uranium (U) immobilization mechanisms in reducing environments. In particular, the long-term behavior of noncrystalline U(IV) species and their possible evolution to more stable phases in subsurface conditions is poorly documented, which limits our ability to predict U long-term geochemical reactivity. Here, we report direct evidence for the evolution of U speciation over 3,300 y in naturally highly U-enriched sediments (350-760 µg ⋅ g^-1 U) from Lake Nègre (Mercantour Massif, Mediterranean Alps, France) by combining U isotopic data (δ²³⁸U and (²³⁴U/²³⁸U)) with U L -edge X-ray absorption fine structure spectroscopy. Constant isotopic ratios over the entire sediment core indicate stable U sources and accumulation modes, allowing for determination of the impact of aging on U speciation. We demonstrate that, after sediment deposition, mononuclear U(IV) species associated with organic matter transformed into authigenic polymeric U(IV)-silica species that might have partially converted to a nanocrystalline coffinite (U^IVSiO₄·nH₂O)-like phase. This diagenetic transformation occurred in less than 700 y and is consistent with the high silica availability of sediments in which diatoms are abundant. It also yields consistency with laboratory studies that proposed the formation of colloidal polynuclear U(IV)-silica species, as precursors for coffinite formation. However, the incomplete transformation observed here only slightly reduces the potential lability of U, which could have important implications to evaluate the long-term management of U-contaminated sediments and, by extension, of U-bearing wastes in silica-rich subsurface environments.