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Rare earth elements in uranium ore deposits from Namibia: A nuclear forensics tool.

Dakalo Madzunya1, Vera Uushona2, Manny Mathuthu1

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Rare earth element (REE) concentrations in uranium ore reveal distinct patterns, aiding nuclear forensics. Analysis confirmed significant differences between mines, enabling material origin identification.

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Area of Science:

  • Geochemistry
  • Nuclear Forensics

Background:

  • Rare earth elements (REE) concentrations are stable during milling, making them reliable indicators of material origin.
  • Nuclear forensics utilizes geochemical signatures to trace illicit materials.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To determine rare earth element concentrations in uranium ore deposits.
  • To assess the utility of REE patterns as a nuclear forensics tool for distinguishing uranium ore origins.

Main Methods:

  • Inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) for REE concentration analysis.
  • Kruskal-Wallis and pairwise comparison tests for statistical significance.
  • Principal Component Analysis (PCA) for sample discrimination.
  • C1-Chondrite normalization for REE pattern determination.

Main Results:

  • Total REE concentrations varied significantly between the three mines (M1, M2, M3), with M2 > M3 > M1.
  • A statistically significant difference (p < 0.05) was found between Mine 1 and Mine 2.
  • All ore samples exhibited similar REE patterns, characterized by a pronounced Europium (Eu) anomaly, enriched Light Rare Earth Elements (LREE), and depleted Heavy Rare Earth Elements (HREE).
  • PCA effectively distinguished ore samples from different mines.

Conclusions:

  • REE concentrations and patterns in uranium ore are valuable for nuclear forensics.
  • Geochemical signatures, particularly REE patterns, can successfully differentiate uranium ore origins.
  • The study demonstrates the potential of REE analysis in identifying the source of uranium materials.