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Author Zhou, Y.; Li, G.; Xu, L.; Liu, J.; Sun, Z.; Shi, W. url  openurl
  Title Uranium recovery from sandstone-type uranium deposit by acid in-situ leaching – an example from the Kujieertai Type Journal Article
  Year 2020 Publication Hydrometallurgy Abbreviated Journal  
  Volume 191 Issue Pages 105209  
  Keywords Acid in-situ leaching, Sandstone-type uranium deposit, Uranium deportment in the ore, Uranium recovery, Water-rock interaction  
  Abstract (up) The factors influencing uranium recovery in water-rock systems during acid in-situ leaching (ISL) were studied at the Kujieertai uranium deposit in Xinjiang. Using an ISL unit, a field leach trial (FLT) had been carried out to test the sequential effects of a leaching solution without oxidant (H2SO4 solution 4–8 g/L) and a leaching solution with oxidant (H2SO4 3–7 g/L, and Fe (III) 2–6 g/L). The observation of the leaching process revealed clearly defined stages of uranium release from the solid mineral to solution. Uranium mobilization from solid mineral into solution can be described in four stages. At the beginning of the acid ISL process, there was no oxidant to be added to the leaching solution and the desorption of hexavalent uranyl ions in the open pores, as well as dissolution of hexavalent uranium minerals, led to a short-term peak in the pregnant solution, which happened while pH decreased from about 5.3 to 2.62. Following the depletion of the adsorbed hexavalent uranium and a decline in uranium dissolution intensity, the addition of Fe(III) facilitated the oxidation of tetravalent uranium, which enabled intensive uranium mobilization again. During this process, the dissolution of uranium had a strong positive correlation with the reduction of Fe(III) and Eh in the leach solution. Beside hydrochemical factors, the deportment of uranium was also an important factor affecting uranium recovery. Uranium located in the open pores can be completely exposed to the solution and the mobilization intensity was significantly affected by hydrogeochemical conditions; but the uranium present in microfissures and in the ore matrix could not be fully exposed to the solution, so, their dissolution intensity was primarily controlled by corrosion and permeability of the ore. In general, the hydrogeochemical conditions and the deportment of uranium were the external and internal factors that significantly affected the dissolution and recovery of uranium in the early and middle stages of the FLT. However, in the latest stages, due to uranium depletion, enhancing the chemical potential of the leaching solution, specifically acidity and/or the amount of oxidant, had little improvement on uranium recovery.  
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  Series Editor Series Title Abbreviated Series Title  
  Series Volume Series Issue Edition  
  ISSN 0304-386x ISBN Medium  
  Area Expedition Conference  
  Notes Approved no  
  Call Number THL @ christoph.kuells @ zhou_uranium_2020 Serial 205  
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Author Gil-Márquez, J.M.; Sültenfuß, J.; Andreo, B.; Mudarra, M. url  openurl
  Title Groundwater dating tools (3H, 3He, 4He, CFC-12, SF6) coupled with hydrochemistry to evaluate the hydrogeological functioning of complex evaporite-karst settings Type Journal Article
  Year 2020 Publication Journal of Hydrology Abbreviated Journal  
  Volume 580 Issue Pages 124263  
  Keywords Groundwater dating, Evaporite karst, Brine spring, Free-shape models  
  Abstract (up) The hydrogeological functioning of four different areas in a complex evaporite-karst unit of predominantly aquitard behavior in S Spain was investigated. Environmental dating tracers (3H, 3He, 4He, CFC-12, SF6) and hydrochemical data were determined from spring samples to identify and characterize groundwater flow components of different residence times in the media. Results show a general geochemical evolution pattern, from higher (recharge areas) to lower positions (discharge areas), in which mineralization rises as well as the value of the rCl−/SO42−, evidencing longer water-rock interaction. Ne values show degassing of most of the samples, favored by the high salinity of groundwater and the development of karstification so that the concentration of all the considered gases were corrected according to the difference between the theoretical and the measured Ne. The presence of modern groundwater in every sample was proved by the detection of 3H and CFC-12. At the opposite, the higher amount of radiogenic 4He in most samples also indicates that they have an old component. The 3H/3He dating method does not give reliable ages as a consequence of degassing and the large uncertainty of the 3He/4He ratios of the sources for the radiogenic Helium. The large SF6 concentrations suggest terrigenic production related to halite and dolomite. Binary Mixing and Free Shape Models were created based on 3H and CFC-12 data to interpret the age distribution of the samples. Two parameters (GA50 and >70%) were proposed as an indicator of that distribution, as they provide further information than the mean age. Particularly, GA50 is derived from the median groundwater age and is presented as a new way of interpreting mixed groundwater age data. A greater fraction of old groundwater (3H and CFC-12 free) was identified in discharge areas, while the proportion and estimated infiltration date of the younger fractions in recharge areas were higher and more recent, respectively. The application of different approaches has been useful to corroborate previous theoretical conceptual model proposed for the study area and to test the applicability of the used environmental tracer in dating brine groundwater and karst springs.  
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  Series Volume Series Issue Edition  
  ISSN 0022-1694 ISBN Medium  
  Area Expedition Conference  
  Notes Approved no  
  Call Number THL @ christoph.kuells @ Gilmarquez2020124263 Serial 213  
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Author Romeo, N.; Mabry, J.; Hillegonds, D.; Kainz, G.; Jaklitsch, M.; Matsumoto, T. url  openurl
  Title Developments of a field gas extraction device and krypton purification system for groundwater radio-krypton dating at the IAEA Type Journal Article
  Year 2022 Publication Applied Radiation and Isotopes Abbreviated Journal  
  Volume 189 Issue Pages 110450  
  Keywords  
  Abstract (up) The long-lived radio-krypton isotope 81Kr (t1/2 = 2.29 × 105 yr) is an ideal tracer for old groundwater age dating in the range of 105–106 years which goes beyond the reach of radio-carbon (14C) age dating. Analytical breakthrough made over the last two decades in Atom Trap Trace Analysis (ATTA) has enabled the use of this isotope with extremely low abundance (81Kr/Kr = 6 × 10−13) to be used as a practical dating tool for very old groundwater. The International Atomic Energy Agency aims to provide this new isotope tool for better groundwater resource management of Member States and developed a field sampling device to collect dissolved gas samples from groundwater and a system to separate and purify trace amounts of krypton from the gas samples for the ATTA analysis. The design, setup and performances of our sampling and purification systems are described here. Our system can produce a high purity aliquot of about 5 μL of krypton from 5 L of air sample (recovery yield of >90%). The samples made by our system were confirmed to be acceptable for the ATTA analysis.  
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  Language Summary Language Original Title  
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  Series Volume Series Issue Edition  
  ISSN 0969-8043 ISBN Medium  
  Area Expedition Conference  
  Notes Approved no  
  Call Number THL @ christoph.kuells @ Romeo2022110450 Serial 214  
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Author Wang, B.; Luo, Y.; Qian, J.-zhong; Liu, J.-hui; Li, X.; Zhang, Y.-hong; Chen, Q.-qian; Li, L.-yao; Liang, D.-ye; Huang, J. url  openurl
  Title Machine learning–based optimal design of the in-situ leaching process parameter (ISLPP) for the acid in-situ leaching of uranium Type Journal Article
  Year 2023 Publication Journal of Hydrology Abbreviated Journal  
  Volume 626 Issue Pages 130234  
  Keywords In-situ leaching, Injection rate design, Lixiviant concentration design, Machine learning, Simulation-optimisation, Uncertainty  
  Abstract (up) The migration process of leached uranium in the in-situ leaching of uranium is considered a typical reactive transport problem. During this process, the lixiviant concentration and injection rate are important in-situ leaching process parameters (ISLPP) to efficiently recover uranium. However, several uncertain factors affect the outcomes of the ISLPP design. In addition, the repeated use of the reactive transport model (RTM) for investigating the acid in-situ leaching of uranium with the application of the Monte Carlo method leads to a substantial computational load. For this reason, a machine learning (ML)–based surrogate model was developed with the backpropagation neural network (BPNN) method to replace the RTM under the condition of uncertain parameters. Moreover, the simulated annealing optimisation model for ISLPP was created based on the proposed surrogate model. The optimal ISLPP was achieved that generated maximum profits from uranium recovery under different lixiviant prices, uranium prices and exploitation times. The optimal design framework of ISLPP based on the proposed ML algorithm was then applied in the Bayan-Uul sandstone-type uranium deposit in Inner Mongolia, China. From our analysis, it was demonstrated that the ML-based surrogate model exhibited great fitness with the RTM. The optimal results of the ISLPP indicated that the lixiviant concentration and injection rate could be adjusted based on the fluctuations in lixiviant price, uranium price and exploitation time. If the prices of sulphuric acid were high, a specific concentration of hydrogen peroxide could be injected into the injection well to promote the oxidation and dissolution of the uranium ore to increase the income from the uranium recovery. The optimisation model can also use the ISLPP scheme to boost the revenues from different lixiviant prices, uranium prices and exploitation times under the uncertainty of porosity, illustrating the applicability of the ML-based optimal design method of ISLPP in ISL mining. A general framework for developing surrogate models, as well as for conducting uncertainty analyses for a wide range of groundwater models was proposed here yielding valuable insights.  
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  Series Editor Series Title Abbreviated Series Title  
  Series Volume Series Issue Edition  
  ISSN 0022-1694 ISBN Medium  
  Area Expedition Conference  
  Notes Approved no  
  Call Number THL @ christoph.kuells @ wang_machine_2023 Serial 210  
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Author Alexander, A.C.; Ndambuki, J.M. url  openurl
  Title Impact of mine closure on groundwater resource: Experience from Westrand Basin-South Africa Type Journal Article
  Year 2023 Publication Physics and Chemistry of the Earth, Parts A/B/C Abbreviated Journal  
  Volume 131 Issue Pages 103432  
  Keywords Acid mine drainage, Groundwater quality, Mine closure, Spatio-temporal variation, Westrand Basin  
  Abstract (up) The mining sector is at the edge of expanding to cater for natural resources that are much needed for technological development and manufacturing. Mushrooming of mines will consequently increase the number of mines closure. Moreover, mines closure have adverse impact on the environment at large and specifically on water resources. This study analyses historical groundwater quality parameters in mine intensive basin of Westrand Basin (WRB) to understand the status of groundwater quality in relation to mining activities and mine closure. Geographic information system (GIS) was used to map the spatio-temporal variation of groundwater quality in the basin and groundwater quality index (GQI) to evaluate its status. The coefficient of variation (CV) was applied to understand the stability of groundwater quality after the mine closure. Results indicated unstable and altered trend with increasing levels of acidity and salts concentration around the mines vicinity following the mine closure. The resultant maps indicated a significant deterioration of groundwater quality around the WRB with concentrations decreasing downstream. Obtained average GQI for the study period of 1996–2015 suggested a moderate groundwater quality at a range of GQI = 64–73. The CV indicated varying water quality at CV \textgreater 30% suggesting presence of source of contamination. Observed groundwater quality trends in Westrand basin suggested that mines closure present potential threat on groundwater quality and thus, a need for a robust mine closure plan and implementation.  
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  Series Volume Series Issue Edition  
  ISSN 1474-7065 ISBN Medium  
  Area Expedition Conference  
  Notes Approved no  
  Call Number THL @ christoph.kuells @ alexander_impact_2023 Serial 134  
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Author Su, X.; Liu, Z.; Yao, Y.; Du, Z. url  openurl
  Title Petrology, mineralogy, and ore leaching of sandstone-hosted uranium deposits in the Ordos Basin, North China Type Journal Article
  Year 2020 Publication Ore Geology Reviews Abbreviated Journal  
  Volume 127 Issue Pages 103768  
  Keywords Geochemical composition, leach mining, Mineralogy, Ordos Basin, Sandstone-hosted uranium deposit  
  Abstract (up) The Nalinggou–Daying uranium metallogenic belt is situated at the northern Ordos Basin, China. Petrographical, mineralogical and geochemical techniques were used to study the ore-bearing sandstones and host rocks in the Nalinggou–Daying uranium metallogenic belt. The present study shows that uranium minerals, i.e., coffinite, pitchblende, and brannerite, are mostly disseminated around pyrite and detrital particles. The ore-bearing sandstones are enriched in organic matter, with which this reductive environment influenced uranium leaching. The carbonate concentration of the uranium ores is markedly higher than that of the host rocks, and intense carbonatization occurs in the ore-bearing sandstones. In this case, the usage of the classical in-situ leach uranium mining technique by injecting H2SO4 + H2O2 solution produces calcium sulfate precipitate, which can lead to blocking of the ore-bearing strata. For this reason, laboratory and field uranium mining tests were conducted using CO2 + O2 in-situ leaching technology and were demonstrated to be successful, illustrating that this approach is technically feasible. Inhibiting ore bed blockage and increasing the amount of injected O2 are important for uranium leaching in this setting.  
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  Series Editor Series Title Abbreviated Series Title  
  Series Volume Series Issue Edition  
  ISSN 0169-1368 ISBN Medium  
  Area Expedition Conference  
  Notes Approved no  
  Call Number THL @ christoph.kuells @ su_petrology_2020 Serial 120  
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Author Zeng, S.; Shen, Y.; Sun, B.; Tan, K.; Zhang, S.; Ye, W. url  openurl
  Title Fractal kinetic characteristics of uranium leaching from low permeability uranium-bearing sandstone Type Journal Article
  Year 2022 Publication Nuclear Engineering and Technology Abbreviated Journal  
  Volume 54 Issue 4 Pages 1175-1184  
  Keywords Fractal characteristics, In-situ leaching, Leaching kinetics, Pore structure, Uranium mine  
  Abstract (up) The pore structure of uranium-bearing sandstone is one of the critical factors that affect the uranium leaching performance. In this article, uranium-bearing sandstone from the Yili Basin, Xinjiang, China, was taken as the research object. The fractal characteristics of the pore structure of the uranium-bearing sandstone were studied using mercury intrusion experiments and fractal theory, and the fractal dimension of the uranium-bearing sandstone was calculated. In addition, the effect of the fractal characteristics of the pore structure of the uranium-bearing sandstone on the uranium leaching kinetics was studied. Then, the kinetics was analyzed using a shrinking nuclear model, and it was determined that the rate of uranium leaching is mainly controlled by the diffusion reaction, and the dissolution rate constant (K) is linearly related to the pore specific surface fractal dimension (DS) and the pore volume fractal dimension (DV). Eventually, fractal kinetic models for predicting the in-situ leaching kinetics were established using the unreacted shrinking core model, and the linear relationship between the fractal dimension of the sample’s pore structure and the dissolution rate during the leaching was fitted.  
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  Series Editor Series Title Abbreviated Series Title  
  Series Volume Series Issue Edition  
  ISSN 1738-5733 ISBN Medium  
  Area Expedition Conference  
  Notes Approved no  
  Call Number THL @ christoph.kuells @ zeng_fractal_2022 Serial 193  
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Author Post, V.E.A.; Vassolo, S.I.; Tiberghien, C.; Baranyikwa, D.; Miburo, D. url  openurl
  Title Weathering and evaporation controls on dissolved uranium concentrations in groundwater – A case study from northern Burundi Type Journal Article
  Year 2017 Publication Science of The Total Environment Abbreviated Journal  
  Volume 607-608 Issue Pages 281-293  
  Keywords Geochemical modelling, Hydrochemistry, Lake Tshohoha South, Public health, Radionuclides, Water supply  
  Abstract (up) The potential use of groundwater for potable water supply can be severely compromised by natural contaminants such as uranium. The environmental mobility of uranium depends on a suite of factors including aquifer lithology, redox conditions, complexing agents, and hydrological processes. Uranium concentrations of up to 734μg/L are found in groundwater in northern Burundi, and the objective of the present study was to identify the causes for these elevated concentrations. Based on a comprehensive data set of groundwater chemistry, geology, and hydrological measurements, it was found that the highest dissolved uranium concentrations in groundwater occur near the shores of Lake Tshohoha South and other smaller lakes nearby. A model is proposed in which weathering and evapotranspiration during groundwater recharge, flow and discharge exert the dominant controls on the groundwater chemical composition. Results of PHREEQC simulations quantitatively confirm this conceptual model and show that uranium mobilization followed by evapo-concentration is the most likely explanation for the high dissolved uranium concentrations observed. The uranium source is the granitic sand, which was found to have a mean elemental uranium content of 14ppm, but the exact mobilization process could not be established. Uranium concentrations may further be controlled by adsorption, especially where calcium-uranyl‑carbonate complexes are present. Water and uranium mass balance calculations for Lake Tshohoha South are consistent with the inferred fluxes and show that high‑uranium groundwater represents only a minor fraction of the overall water input to the lake. These findings highlight that the evaporation effects that cause radionuclide concentrations to rise to harmful levels in groundwater discharge areas are not only confined to arid regions, and that this should be considered when selecting suitable locations for water supply wells.  
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  Series Volume Series Issue Edition  
  ISSN 0048-9697 ISBN Medium  
  Area Expedition Conference  
  Notes Approved no  
  Call Number THL @ christoph.kuells @ post_weathering_2017 Serial 132  
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Author Botha, R.; Lindsay, R.; Newman, R.T.; Maleka, P.P.; Chimba, G. url  openurl
  Title Radon in groundwater baseline study prior to unconventional shale gas development and hydraulic fracturing in the Karoo Basin (South Africa) Type Journal Article
  Year 2019 Publication Applied Radiation and Isotopes Abbreviated Journal  
  Volume 147 Issue Pages 7-13  
  Keywords  
  Abstract (up) The prospect of unconventional shale gas development in the semi-arid Karoo Basin (South Africa) has created the prerequisite to temporally characterise the natural radioactivity in associated groundwater which is solely depended on for drinking and agriculture purposes. Radon (222Rn) was the primary natural radionuclide of interest in this study; however, supplementary radium (226Ra and 228Ra) in-water measurements were also conducted. A total of 53 aquifers spanning three provinces were studied during three separate measurement campaigns from 2014 to 2016. The Karoo Basin’s natural radon-in-water levels can be characterised by a minimum of 1 ± 1 Bq/L (consistent with zero or below LLD), a maximum of 183 ± 18 Bq/L and mean of 41 ± 5 Bq/L. The mean radon-in-water levels for shallow aquifers were systematically higher (55 ± 10 Bq/L) compared to deep (14 ± 3 Bq/L) or mixed aquifers (20 ± 6 Bq/L). Radon-in-water activity concentration fluctuations were predominantly observed from shallow aquifers compared to the generally steady levels of deep aquifers. A collective seasonal mean radon-in-water levels increase from the winter of 2014 (44 ± 8 Bq/L) to winter of 2016 (61 ± 16 Bq/L) was noticed which could be related to the extreme national drought experienced in 2015. Radium-in-water (228Ra and 226Ra) levels ranged from below detection level to a maximum of 0.008 Bq/L (226Ra) and 0.015 Bq/L (228Ra). The 228Ra/226Ra ratio was characterised by a minimum of 0.93, a maximum of 6.5 and a mean value of 3.3 ± 1.3. Developing and improving baseline naturally occurring radionuclide groundwater databases is vital to study potential radiological environmental impacts attributed to industrial processes such as hydraulic fracturing or mining.  
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  Series Volume Series Issue Edition  
  ISSN 0969-8043 ISBN Medium  
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  Notes Approved no  
  Call Number THL @ christoph.kuells @ botha_radon_2019 Serial 169  
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Author Abadi, B.; Sadeghfam, S.; Ehsanitabar, A.; Nadiri, A.A. url  openurl
  Title Investigating socio-economic and hydrological sustainability of ancient Qanat water systems in arid regions of central Iran Type Journal Article
  Year 2023 Publication Groundwater for Sustainable Development Abbreviated Journal  
  Volume 23 Issue Pages 100988  
  Keywords Ancient irrigation, QWSs, GIS, Indigenous knowledge, Maintenance, Distribution  
  Abstract (up) The Qanat water systems (QWSs), the ancient water engineering systems in Iran belonging to the very distant past, have harvested groundwater from drainages to convey it toward the surface with no use of energy. The present article highlights the socio-economic aspects of the sustainability of the QWSs and gives a satisfactory explanation of why the QWSs should be restored. In doing so, we subscribe to the view that indigenous and scientific knowledge should be incorporated. The former serves to tackle the restoration of the QWSs, the latter contributes to the distribution of water into the farmlands as efficiently as possible. Measured by (a) resilience, (b) reliability, (c) vulnerability, and (d) sustainability, the GIS technique made clear the performance of the QWSs has, therefore, the worst condition observed in terms of resiliency; the best condition observed concerning the vulnerability. Moreover, the QWSs have intermediate performance in terms of reliability. Finally, the sustainability index (SI) classifies the QWSs into different bands, which provide explicit support to take priority of the selection of the QWSs for restoration. In conclusion, a theoretical framework has been drawn to keep the QWSs sustainable.  
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  Series Volume Series Issue Edition  
  ISSN 2352-801x ISBN Medium  
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  Notes Approved no  
  Call Number THL @ christoph.kuells @ Abadi2023100988 Serial 268  
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