Uranium mill tailings; geochemistry, mineralogy, and environmental impact
Uranium mill tailings; geochemistry, mineralogy, and environmental impact (in The nuclear fuel cycle; environmental aspects, Rodney C. Ewing (editor))
Elements (December 2006) 2 (6): 335-341
- actinides
- alkaline earth metals
- environmental effects
- environmental management
- hazardous waste
- heavy metals
- isotopes
- metals
- mines
- noble gases
- phase equilibria
- pollution
- Ra-226
- radioactive decay
- radioactive isotopes
- radioactive waste
- radium
- radon
- Rn-222
- tailings
- Th-230
- thorium
- toxic materials
- U-238
- uranium
- uranium minerals
- waste disposal
Worldwide, uranium mining has generated 938 x 10 (super 6) m (super 3) of mine tailings. The radioactivity of these tailings depends on the grade of ore mined and varies from < 1 Bq/g to > 100 Bq/g. The commonest mode of disposal is near-surface impoundment in the vicinity of the mine or mill. The principal radiation risks from uranium tailings are gamma radiation, essentially from radium decay; windblown radioactive dust dispersal, and radon gas and its radioactive progeny, which are known to cause lung cancer. Uranium mill tailings are also often associated with elevated concentrations of highly toxic heavy metals, which are a major source of surface and groundwater contamination. Due to their high sulphide content (a few to tens of wt %), tailings may acidify groundwater, accelerating the release of radioactive and hazardous elements.
