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Interim Report Task 2: Performance Testing-Task 2.4: Natural Mineral Analog Studies Performance and Chemical Characteristics of Brannerite in Natural Systems to Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory for Contract B345772.

DE200415007414

Publication Date	2000
Personal Author	Lumpkin, G. R.; Colella, M.; Leung, S. H. F.
Page Count	28
Abstract	To investigate the long-term alteration behavior of brannerite, we have undertaken a study of 13 natural samples from various geological environments, including granites, granitic pegmatites, quartz veins, and placer deposits. Literature data and U-Th-Pb chemical dating carried out in this work indicate that the samples range in age from approximately 20 Ma to 1580 Ma. Where independent age data or estimates are available for comparison, the U-Th-Pb chemical ages are in reasonable agreement for the younger samples, but the older samples tend to show evidence for Pb loss (up to about 80%), a common feature of metamict Nb, Ta, and Ti oxide minerals. Our results show that many of the samples exhibit only minor alteration, usually within small patches, microfractures, or around the rims of the brannerite crystals. Other samples consist of variable amounts of unaltered and altered brannerite. Heavily altered samples may contain anatase and thorite as fine-grained alteration products. Certain samples exhibited fracturing of the associated rock matrix or mineral phase in the immediate vicinity of the brannerite grains. These fractures contain U bearing material and indicate that some U migrated locally from the source brannerite.
Keywords	Age estimation Brannerite Radioactive waste management Bearings Fractures Fracturing Granites Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory Oxide minerals Pegmatites Performance testing Placers Quartz Thorite
Source Agency	Technical Information Center Oak Ridge Tennessee
Corporate Authors	Lawrence Livermore National Lab., CA.; Department of Energy, Washington, DC.
Supplemental Notes	Sponsored by Department of Energy, Washington, DC.
Document Type	Technical Report
NTIS Issue Number	200502

Interim Report Task 2: Performance Testing-Task 2.4: Natural Mineral Analog Studies Performance and Chemical Characteristics of Brannerite in Natural Systems to Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory for Contract B345772.

Interim Report Task 2: Performance Testing-Task 2.4: Natural Mineral Analog Studies Performance and Chemical Characteristics of Brannerite in Natural Systems to Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory for Contract B345772.
DE200415007414

Publication Date	2000
Personal Author	Lumpkin, G. R.; Colella, M.; Leung, S. H. F.
Page Count	28
Abstract	To investigate the long-term alteration behavior of brannerite, we have undertaken a study of 13 natural samples from various geological environments, including granites, granitic pegmatites, quartz veins, and placer deposits. Literature data and U-Th-Pb chemical dating carried out in this work indicate that the samples range in age from approximately 20 Ma to 1580 Ma. Where independent age data or estimates are available for comparison, the U-Th-Pb chemical ages are in reasonable agreement for the younger samples, but the older samples tend to show evidence for Pb loss (up to about 80%), a common feature of metamict Nb, Ta, and Ti oxide minerals. Our results show that many of the samples exhibit only minor alteration, usually within small patches, microfractures, or around the rims of the brannerite crystals. Other samples consist of variable amounts of unaltered and altered brannerite. Heavily altered samples may contain anatase and thorite as fine-grained alteration products. Certain samples exhibited fracturing of the associated rock matrix or mineral phase in the immediate vicinity of the brannerite grains. These fractures contain U bearing material and indicate that some U migrated locally from the source brannerite.
Keywords	Age estimation Brannerite Radioactive waste management Bearings Fractures Fracturing Granites Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory Oxide minerals Pegmatites Performance testing Placers Quartz Thorite
Source Agency	Technical Information Center Oak Ridge Tennessee
Corporate Authors	Lawrence Livermore National Lab., CA.; Department of Energy, Washington, DC.
Supplemental Notes	Sponsored by Department of Energy, Washington, DC.
Document Type	Technical Report
NTIS Issue Number	200502