Abstract: In Situ Recovery (ISR) is the most important process of uranium production in the world (50%). It consists of an injection of a leaching solution into a permeable mineralized aquifer (sandstone), pumping of the solution after dissolution of the ore minerals and recovery of the uranium from the pregnant solution in a surface plant. In this context, the fate of swelling clay minerals such as smectites is of main importance due to their role in the mobility of cationic elements by diverse geochemical processes such as ion-exchange reactions or dissolution. The present study details analysis of dioctahedral smectites before and after in-situ leaching by acidic (H2SO4) ISR solutions. Samples were collected from two sedimentary basins hosting some of the main uranium roll front deposits exploited by acidic ISR (Tortkuduk deposit, Shu-Saryssu basin, Kazakhstan, and Dulaan Uul and Zoovch Ovoo deposits, Sainshand basin, Mongolia). Scanning Electron Microscope and X-Ray Diffraction analysis revealed that dioctahedral smectite is a ubiquitous mineral in all analyzed samples, before and after acidification, and revealed a difference of crystal chemistry of the smectites between deposits of Kazakhstan (beidellite type) and Mongolia (montmorillonite type). Chemical analysis and semi-quantification of the smectites before and after acidification also revealed a difference in chemical reactivity, with a higher dissolution of montmorillonite layers compared to beidellite ones, and the importance of ion-exchange reactions. These findings are consistent with literature data obtained on model systems. The persistence of dioctahedral smectites after several years of acidification is crucial for the understanding of geochemical processes during uranium production or remediation of the aquifers. Finally, based on the analysis of samples from U-deposits hosted in both sedimentary basins, a schematic model of the impact of acid solutions on dioctahedral smectite was proposed.

Abstract: The origin of groundwater recharge and subsequent flow paths are often difficult to establish in fractured, multi-lithological, and highly compartmentalized aquifers such as the Troodos Fractured Aquifer (TFA). As the conjunctive use of stable isotopes and hydrogeochemical data provides additional information, we established a monitoring network for stable isotopes in precipitation in Cyprus. The local meteoric water line, altitude effect and seasonal variation of stable isotopes in precipitation are derived from monitoring data. Stable isotopes and hydrogeochemical data are combined to model water-rock interactions and groundwater evolution along a complete ophiolite sequence. As a result a generic hydrogeologic description for the observed water types is developed. Isotope hydrology was applied in conjunction with hydrogeochemical modelling in Kargiotis Watershed, a major north-south transect of the TFA. PHREEQC was used for hydrogeochemical modelling to establish generic descriptions for observed water types. Mean precipitation-weighted values from 16 monitoring stations were used to calculate the Local Meteoric Water Line (LMWL), which was found to be equal to δ2H = (6.58 ± 0.13)*δ18O + (12.64 ± 0.91). A general decrease of 1.22‰ for δ2H and 0.20‰ for δ18O in precipitation was calculated per 100 m altitude. A generic groundwater evolution path was established: 1. Na/MgClHCO3, 2. MgHCO3, 3. Ca/MgHCO3, 4. Ca/MgNaHCO3, 4a. MgNa/CaHCO3/Cl, 5. NaMg/CaHCO3/Cl, 6. NaHCO3, 7. Na/MgHCO3SO4, 8. NaSO4Cl/HCO3. Hydrogeologic descriptions, consisting of groundwater origin, flow path and possible active water-rock processes, have been realised for the observed water types. The first two water types occur in serpentine and ultramafic-gabbro springs. Type 3 waters represent early stages of recharge and/or short flow paths, in gabbro whereas types 4 and 5 are typical for further percolating waters in gabbro and diabase. Water types 6 and 7 occur both in diabase and in the basal group and represent the regional flow. Water type 8 is the end member of regional, upwelling groundwater in the basal group. The presented descriptions and methods have practical applications in groundwater exploration, characterization, and protection. The methodology can be applied in other complex aquifer systems.