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Published online 3 September 2009
Mineralogical Magazine; June 2009; v. 73; no. 3; p. 495-510; DOI: 10.1180/minmag.2009.073.3.495
© 2009 Mineralogical Society of Great Britain and Ireland
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The morphologies and compositions of depleted uranium particles from an environmental case-study

N. S. Lloyd1,*, J. F. W. Mosselmans2, R. R. Parrish1,3, S. R. N. Chenery4, S. V. Hainsworth5 and S. J. Kemp4

1 Department of Geology, University of Leicester, University Road, Leicester LE1 7RH, UK
2 Diamond Light Source Ltd., Diamond House, Chilton, Didcot DE0 11OX, UK
3 NIGL, Kingsley Dunham Centre, Keyworth, Nottingham NG12 5GG, UK
4 British Geological Survey, Kingsley Dunham Centre, Keyworth, Nottingham NG12 5GG, UK
5 Department of Engineering, University of Leicester, University Road, Leicester LE1 7RH, UK

* E-mail: nsl3{at}alumni.leicester.ac.uk

Uraniferous particles from contaminated environmental samples were analysed by scanning electron microscopy with energy dispersive X-ray analysis (SEM-EDXA) and microfocus extended X-ray absorption fine structure (µEXAFS) spectroscopy. The particles of interest are uranium oxides, which were released into the environment by the combustion of scrap depleted uranium (DU) metal at a factory in Colonie, New York, USA. Most of the identified particles appear to have primary, `as emitted' morphologies; some have evidence of minor dissolution, including corrosion pitting. Polycrystalline and often hollow microscopic spheres were identified, which are similar to particles produced by DU munitions impacting armoured targets. They are attributed to the autothermic oxidation of melt droplets. The compositions of the analysed spheres are dominated by UO2+x with variable amounts of U3O8, two of the least soluble and least bioaccessible phases of U. These particles, collected from dusts and soils, have survived more than 25 y in the terrestrial environment. This study further supports the case for using Colonie as an analogue for battlefield DU contamination.

KEYWORDS: depleted uranium, DU, uranium oxide, particles, morphology, EXAFS, SEM, environmental, mineralogy, bioaccessibility






JOURNAL HOME HELP CONTACT PUBLISHER SUBSCRIBE ARCHIVE SEARCH TABLE OF CONTENTS
Copyright © 2009 by Mineralogical Society of Great Britain and Ireland