Attribution of uranium ore concentrates using elemental and anionic data

The capability to correctly identify the geological or geographical source of unknown uranium ore concentrates (UOCs) has obvious nuclear security benefits. This paper reports on a scoping study where the trace elemental and anionic compositions of 24 UOC samples, sourced mainly from mines in Australia and Canada, were examined for their ability to allow attribution of the sample to a particular geological U deposit type or to a particular geographical source. Results of statistical analysis using canonical analysis of principal coordinates (CAP) showed that samples originating from certain U ore deposit types, especially phosphorite and quartz-pebble conglomerate, contained a distinct impurity composition. Samples grouped according to their geographical region of origin appeared to contain distinctive impurities in certain cases (Elliot Lake and Bancroft, Ontario). The key impurities responsible for differentiating groups of samples from a particular geological deposit type were identified and the use of certain impurities as signatures of processing history is discussed. The methodology described in this scoping study provides a promising approach for more comprehensive databases.     

Verification of the TSMP-assisted digisonde topside profiling technique

The purpose of this paper is to evaluate the performance of the TSMP-assisted Digisonde (TaD) topside profiling technique. We present systematic comparisons between electron density profiles and TEC parameters extracted from TaD model with (a) CHAMP-derived TEC parameters, (b) CHAMP reconstructed profiles, (c) ground based GPSderived TEC parameters, and (d) profiles reconstructed from RPI/IMAGE plasmagrams. In all cases, TaD follows the general trend of plasmaspheric observations derived from the above datasets. Especially during storm cases, TaD shows remarkable agreement with the variations of the ground based GPS-derived TEC parameters. Overall, the comparison results shows that TaD method can be adopted by EURIPOS to provide the electron density distribution up to plasmaspheric heights in real-time.     

Solution of the MoMaS reactive transport benchmark with MIN3P—model formulation and simulation results

This paper summarizes the governing equations as implemented in the MIN3P multicomponent flow and reactive transport code (Mayer et al., Water Resour Res 38:1174, 2002) and introduces the equations in discretized form. Linearization and solution methods are presented including adaptive time stepping and update modification schemes. Code-specific details for the implementation of the GdR MoMaS benchmark simulations (Carrayrou et al., Comput Geosci, 2009) are presented. The standard version of the MIN3P code was used to solve the Easy, Medium, and Hard Test Cases, in one and two spatial dimensions, for both advection- and diffusion-dominated conditions. An analysis of the sensitivity of the solution in relation to spatial and temporal discretization parameters is provided for the Easy Test Case, selected results are presented for the Medium and Hard Test Cases, and the performance of the code as a function of discretization parameters is evaluated for all test cases.     

Fossil hunting in the Neolithic: Shells from the Taurus Mountains at Çatalhöyük,Turkey

The Neolithic site of Çatalhöyük in Turkey contains thousands of mollusk shells, among them about 200 fossils. About 25 fossil gastropods and bivalvesoriginate in a Miocene fauna from the Mediterranean Tethys province, and are known from several localities in the Taurus Mountains, dating to the Miocene. The rest are scaphopods belonging to two species of Dentalium and dating to the Pliocene. The gastropods and bivalves were likely collected in the Karaman‐Mut Basin at adistance of about 50km from Çatalhöyük, while the scaphopods were brought from the Hatay Basin. Most of the fossil mollusks at the site were discovered in the upper phases, that is, late in the Pre‐Pottery Neolithic B sequence, and are associated with feasting activities. They may have been collected and brought to the site by the inhabitants as part of transhumance activities, or by visitors. © 2010Wiley Periodicals, Inc.     

Aggregation of colloidal iron during estuarine mixing: Kinetics,mechanism, and seasonality

The colloid chemistry of iron and humic aggregation was studied in a series of laboratory experiments, which were related to seasonal aggregation extent data collected in a temperate estuary. Kinetically, the aggregation of iron occurs with a rapid initial reaction, finished within a few minutes, followed by an extensive, slow second reaction, which lasts for several hours. Organic carbon aggregation, however, occurs primarily in the first reaction. The first reaction is perikinetic while the second reaction is observed to be either perikinetic or orthokinetic, depending on the pore size of the filter used to clarify the suspension. The second reaction involves aggregation of small filtrable colloids (<0.5 μm) with larger aggregates formed in the first reaction, and follows pseudo-second order kinetics with respect to the filtrable iron concentration when finer filters (<0.5 μm) are used for clarification. Little or no temperature dependence is evident for the first reaction extent, while increasing temperature strongly enhances the second reaction. An activation energy of 9–11 kcal·mole^?1 for the second reaction is due to a combination of transport and charge repulsion terms. Field data show a correspondingly greater aggregation extent of iron with salinity in warmer months relative to colder months.     

Natural monocrystalline lonsdaleite

The existence of a new type of natural lonsdaleite confined to regionally metamorphosed and metasomatically modified rocks is verified based on complex data obtained by high resolution microscopy and spectroscopy. The structural and spectroscopic characteristics of isolated lonsdaleite particles that have a relatively large size and monocrystalline structure are given for the first time. The results of these studies can be used not only for simulating the processes of natural diamond formation, but also for designing superhard materials with allowance for the fact that lonsdaleite is the hardest material on Earth.     

Synthetic bayleyite,Mg2[UO2(CO3)3]·18H2O: Thermochemistry,crystallography and crystal structure

Summary Thermochemistry, morphology, optical properties and crystal structure of synthetic bayleyite, Mg₂[UO₂(CO₃)₃]·18H₂O, monoclinic, have been studied. Incongruent melting at 55°, three steps of dehydration and two steps of decarboxylation have been found by thermochemic investigations. Morphology: Prisms along [001] with {100}, {110}, {210}, {001}, {401}, {021}, {211}, {111} and as the most important forms. Optical data:n =1.453,n =1.498,n =1.499, 2V _x =16°,Y=b,X c=11°. Crystal structure: Space groupP2₁/a,a=26.560(3),b=15.256(2),c=6.505(1) Å, =92.90(1)°,Z=4,R=0.029 for 5126 independent reflections measured with MoK -radiation. The structure is built up from isolated Mg(H₂O)₆ octahedra, UO₂(CO₃)₃ units and lattice water molecules, all held together by hydrogen bonds only.

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Synthetischer Bayleyit, Mg₂[UO₂(CO₃)₃]·18H₂O: Thermochemie, Kristallographie und Kristallstruktur

Zuseammenfasung Thermochemie, Morphologie, optische Eigenschaften und Kristallstruktur von Bayleyit, Mg₂[UO₂(CO₃)₃]·18H₂O, monoklin, wurden anhand künstlich hergestellter Kristalle untersucht. Durch thermochemische Untersuchung wurden inkongruentes Schmelzen bei 55°, eine dreistufige Wasserabgabe sowie eine zweistufige CO₂-Abgabe festgestellt. Morphologie: parallel zu [001] gestreckte Prismen mit {100}, {110}, {210}, {001}, {401}, {021}, {211}, {111}, und {311} als wichtigste Formen. Optische Daten:n =1.453,n =1.498,n =1.499, 2V _x =16°,Y=b,X c=11°. Kristallstruktur: RaumgruppeP2₁/a,a=26.560(3),b=15.256(2),c=6.505(1) Å, =92.90(1)°,Z=4;R=0.029 für 5126 unabhängige, mit MoK -Strahlung gemessene Reflexe. Die Struktur enthält isolierte Mg(H₂O)₆-Oktaeder, UO₂(CO₃)₃-Gruppen und freie Wassermoleküle, die ausschließlich durch Wasserstoffbrücken miteinander verknüpft sind.

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With 4 Figures