Biogenic non-crystalline U (IV) revealed as major component in uranium ore deposits

Publikation: Beitrag in FachzeitschriftArtikelForschungPeer-Review

Autorschaft

  • Amrita Bhattacharyya
  • Kate M. Campbell
  • Shelly D. Kelly
  • Yvonne Roebbert
  • Stefan Weyer
  • Rizlan Bernier-Latmani
  • Thomas Borch

Externe Organisationen

  • Colorado State University
  • Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory
  • Southwest Biological Science Center (SBSC)
  • EXAFS Analysis
  • Eidgenössische Technische Hochschule Lausanne (ETHL)
Forschungs-netzwerk anzeigen

Details

OriginalspracheEnglisch
Aufsatznummer15538
FachzeitschriftNature Communications
Jahrgang8
PublikationsstatusVeröffentlicht - 1 Juni 2017

Abstract

Historically, it is believed that crystalline uraninite, produced via the abiotic reduction of hexavalent uranium (U (VI)) is the dominant reduced U species formed in low-temperature uranium roll-front ore deposits. Here we show that non-crystalline U (IV) generated through biologically mediated U (VI) reduction is the predominant U (IV) species in an undisturbed U roll-front ore deposit in Wyoming, USA. Characterization of U species revealed that the majority (-1/458-89%) of U is bound as U (IV) to C-containing organic functional groups or inorganic carbonate, while uraninite and U (VI) represent only minor components. The uranium deposit exhibited mostly 238 U-enriched isotope signatures, consistent with largely biotic reduction of U (VI) to U (IV). This finding implies that biogenic processes are more important to uranium ore genesis than previously understood. The predominance of a relatively labile form of U (IV) also provides an opportunity for a more economical and environmentally benign mining process, as well as the design of more effective post-mining restoration strategies and human health-risk assessment.

ASJC Scopus Sachgebiete

Ziele für nachhaltige Entwicklung

Zitieren

Biogenic non-crystalline U (IV) revealed as major component in uranium ore deposits. / Bhattacharyya, Amrita; Campbell, Kate M.; Kelly, Shelly D. et al.
in: Nature Communications, Jahrgang 8, 15538, 01.06.2017.

Publikation: Beitrag in FachzeitschriftArtikelForschungPeer-Review

Bhattacharyya, A, Campbell, KM, Kelly, SD, Roebbert, Y, Weyer, S, Bernier-Latmani, R & Borch, T 2017, 'Biogenic non-crystalline U (IV) revealed as major component in uranium ore deposits', Nature Communications, Jg. 8, 15538. https://doi.org/10.1038/ncomms15538
Bhattacharyya, A., Campbell, K. M., Kelly, S. D., Roebbert, Y., Weyer, S., Bernier-Latmani, R., & Borch, T. (2017). Biogenic non-crystalline U (IV) revealed as major component in uranium ore deposits. Nature Communications, 8, Artikel 15538. https://doi.org/10.1038/ncomms15538
Bhattacharyya A, Campbell KM, Kelly SD, Roebbert Y, Weyer S, Bernier-Latmani R et al. Biogenic non-crystalline U (IV) revealed as major component in uranium ore deposits. Nature Communications. 2017 Jun 1;8:15538. doi: 10.1038/ncomms15538
Bhattacharyya, Amrita ; Campbell, Kate M. ; Kelly, Shelly D. et al. / Biogenic non-crystalline U (IV) revealed as major component in uranium ore deposits. in: Nature Communications. 2017 ; Jahrgang 8.
Download
@article{866b487568c24087a277fc6b3b122d2a,
title = "Biogenic non-crystalline U (IV) revealed as major component in uranium ore deposits",
abstract = "Historically, it is believed that crystalline uraninite, produced via the abiotic reduction of hexavalent uranium (U (VI)) is the dominant reduced U species formed in low-temperature uranium roll-front ore deposits. Here we show that non-crystalline U (IV) generated through biologically mediated U (VI) reduction is the predominant U (IV) species in an undisturbed U roll-front ore deposit in Wyoming, USA. Characterization of U species revealed that the majority (-1/458-89%) of U is bound as U (IV) to C-containing organic functional groups or inorganic carbonate, while uraninite and U (VI) represent only minor components. The uranium deposit exhibited mostly 238 U-enriched isotope signatures, consistent with largely biotic reduction of U (VI) to U (IV). This finding implies that biogenic processes are more important to uranium ore genesis than previously understood. The predominance of a relatively labile form of U (IV) also provides an opportunity for a more economical and environmentally benign mining process, as well as the design of more effective post-mining restoration strategies and human health-risk assessment.",
author = "Amrita Bhattacharyya and Campbell, {Kate M.} and Kelly, {Shelly D.} and Yvonne Roebbert and Stefan Weyer and Rizlan Bernier-Latmani and Thomas Borch",
note = "Funding information: This project was funded by the University of Wyoming, School of Energy Resources, which administered funds appropriated by the Wyoming State Legislature for research activities related to uranium ISR in Wyoming. Additional support was provided by the Toxic Substance Hydrology Program at the US Geological Survey. We thank James Clay of Cameco Resources for providing access to the Smith Ranch-Highland ISR site and for logistical and technical support of the field sampling, and to Richard Wanty (USGS) for review comments. Use of the Stanford Synchrotron Radiation Lightsource, SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory, is supported by the US Department of Energy, Office of Science, Office of Basic Energy Sciences under Contract No. DE-AC02-76SF00515. Any use of trade, firm or product names was for descriptive purposes only and does not imply endorsement by the US Government",
year = "2017",
month = jun,
day = "1",
doi = "10.1038/ncomms15538",
language = "English",
volume = "8",
journal = "Nature Communications",
issn = "2041-1723",
publisher = "Nature Publishing Group",

}

Download

TY - JOUR

T1 - Biogenic non-crystalline U (IV) revealed as major component in uranium ore deposits

AU - Bhattacharyya, Amrita

AU - Campbell, Kate M.

AU - Kelly, Shelly D.

AU - Roebbert, Yvonne

AU - Weyer, Stefan

AU - Bernier-Latmani, Rizlan

AU - Borch, Thomas

N1 - Funding information: This project was funded by the University of Wyoming, School of Energy Resources, which administered funds appropriated by the Wyoming State Legislature for research activities related to uranium ISR in Wyoming. Additional support was provided by the Toxic Substance Hydrology Program at the US Geological Survey. We thank James Clay of Cameco Resources for providing access to the Smith Ranch-Highland ISR site and for logistical and technical support of the field sampling, and to Richard Wanty (USGS) for review comments. Use of the Stanford Synchrotron Radiation Lightsource, SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory, is supported by the US Department of Energy, Office of Science, Office of Basic Energy Sciences under Contract No. DE-AC02-76SF00515. Any use of trade, firm or product names was for descriptive purposes only and does not imply endorsement by the US Government

PY - 2017/6/1

Y1 - 2017/6/1

N2 - Historically, it is believed that crystalline uraninite, produced via the abiotic reduction of hexavalent uranium (U (VI)) is the dominant reduced U species formed in low-temperature uranium roll-front ore deposits. Here we show that non-crystalline U (IV) generated through biologically mediated U (VI) reduction is the predominant U (IV) species in an undisturbed U roll-front ore deposit in Wyoming, USA. Characterization of U species revealed that the majority (-1/458-89%) of U is bound as U (IV) to C-containing organic functional groups or inorganic carbonate, while uraninite and U (VI) represent only minor components. The uranium deposit exhibited mostly 238 U-enriched isotope signatures, consistent with largely biotic reduction of U (VI) to U (IV). This finding implies that biogenic processes are more important to uranium ore genesis than previously understood. The predominance of a relatively labile form of U (IV) also provides an opportunity for a more economical and environmentally benign mining process, as well as the design of more effective post-mining restoration strategies and human health-risk assessment.

AB - Historically, it is believed that crystalline uraninite, produced via the abiotic reduction of hexavalent uranium (U (VI)) is the dominant reduced U species formed in low-temperature uranium roll-front ore deposits. Here we show that non-crystalline U (IV) generated through biologically mediated U (VI) reduction is the predominant U (IV) species in an undisturbed U roll-front ore deposit in Wyoming, USA. Characterization of U species revealed that the majority (-1/458-89%) of U is bound as U (IV) to C-containing organic functional groups or inorganic carbonate, while uraninite and U (VI) represent only minor components. The uranium deposit exhibited mostly 238 U-enriched isotope signatures, consistent with largely biotic reduction of U (VI) to U (IV). This finding implies that biogenic processes are more important to uranium ore genesis than previously understood. The predominance of a relatively labile form of U (IV) also provides an opportunity for a more economical and environmentally benign mining process, as well as the design of more effective post-mining restoration strategies and human health-risk assessment.

UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85020200109&partnerID=8YFLogxK

U2 - 10.1038/ncomms15538

DO - 10.1038/ncomms15538

M3 - Article

C2 - 28569759

AN - SCOPUS:85020200109

VL - 8

JO - Nature Communications

JF - Nature Communications

SN - 2041-1723

M1 - 15538

ER -

Von denselben Autoren