TY - JOUR
T1 - Thermal decomposition of Australian uranium ore concentrates: characterisation of speciation and morphological changes following thermogravimetric analysis
AU - Ditcham, Tim
AU - Wotherspoon, Andrew
AU - Kirkbride, Kenneth
AU - Lenehan, Claire
AU - Popelka-Filcoff, Rachel
PY - 2016/11/1
Y1 - 2016/11/1
N2 - In this manuscript, we report the analysis of eight uranium ore concentrates (UOCs) from three operating Australian uranium mines using thermogravimetric analysis to investigate whether the thermal decomposition of these UOCs can be used to differentiate between sources. Micro-Raman spectroscopy and X-ray diffraction were also used to identify the different phases present within the original UOC material, as well as chart their decomposition with the increasing temperature. UOCs of different species were able to be differentiated from one another, while the moisture content, a variable component within the UOCs, did distinguish between U3O8 samples sourced from Ranger and Olympic Dam. The effect of elevated temperatures on the diverse UOC morphologies of the three UOCs was also examined.
AB - In this manuscript, we report the analysis of eight uranium ore concentrates (UOCs) from three operating Australian uranium mines using thermogravimetric analysis to investigate whether the thermal decomposition of these UOCs can be used to differentiate between sources. Micro-Raman spectroscopy and X-ray diffraction were also used to identify the different phases present within the original UOC material, as well as chart their decomposition with the increasing temperature. UOCs of different species were able to be differentiated from one another, while the moisture content, a variable component within the UOCs, did distinguish between U3O8 samples sourced from Ranger and Olympic Dam. The effect of elevated temperatures on the diverse UOC morphologies of the three UOCs was also examined.
KW - Australian uranium ore concentrates
KW - Materials provenancing
KW - Nuclear forensic science
KW - Thermogravimetric analysis
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=84976483380&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1007/s10967-016-4871-9
DO - 10.1007/s10967-016-4871-9
M3 - Article
SN - 0236-5731
VL - 310
SP - 725
EP - 732
JO - Journal of Radioanalytical and Nuclear Chemistry
JF - Journal of Radioanalytical and Nuclear Chemistry
IS - 2
ER -