Abstract: We present a first paragenetic study of the Wuyier, Wuyisan, Wuyiyi and Shihongtan sandstone-hosted roll-front uranium deposits, northwest China. The mineralization is hosted by Lower–Middle Jurassic coarse- to medium-grained sandstones, which are dark-gray to black due to a mixture of ore minerals and carbonaceous debris. The sandstone is alluvial fan-braided river facies. Minerals associated with these deposits can be broadly categorized as detrital, authigenic, and ore-stage mineralization. Ore minerals consist of uraninite and coffinite. This is the first noted occurrence of coffinite in this type of deposit in China. Sulfide minerals associated with the uranium minerals are pyrite, marcasite, and less commonly, sphalerite and galena. The sulfide minerals are largely in textural equilibrium with the uranium minerals. However, these sulfide minerals occasionally appear to predate, as well as postdate, the uranium minerals. This implies that there are multiple generations of sulfides associated with these deposits. The ore minerals occur interstitially between fossilized wood cells in the sandstones as well as replace fossilized wood and biotite. The deposits are generally low-grade. Primary uranium minerals associated with the low-grade deposits are generally too small, ranging from 0.2 to 0.3 μm in diameter, to be observed by optical microscopy and are only observed by electron microscopy. Mineral paragenesis and textures indicate that these deposits formed under low temperature (30–50 °C) conditions.

Abstract: Elevated levels of nitrate occur in phreatic groundwater in the western Kalahari, Namibia. Nitrate in water containing 0.4–3.1 meq NO−3l−1, of widespread occurrence, has δ15N values in the range +4.9 to +8.0‰, suggesting natural derivation from the soil. The sporadic occurrence of very high levels of nitrate (> 4 meq NO−3l−1), which has δ15N between +9.3 to +18.7‰, reflects pollution derived from animal waste. The importance of considering the possible isotopic effects of denitrification, and the significance of leaching in the nitrogen budget of the Kalahari soil, are also discussed.

Abstract: Kinetics of heavy-metal ions sorption by alga Spirogyra sp. was evaluated experimentally in the laboratory, using both the static and the dynamic approach. The metal ions – Mn2+, Cu2+, Zn2+ and Cd2+ – were sorbed from aqueous solutions of their salts. The static experiments showed that the sorption equilibria were attained in 30min, with 90-95% of metal ions sorbed in first 10min of each process. The sorption equilibria were approximated with the Langmuir isotherm model. The algae sorbed each heavy metal ions proportionally to the amount of this metal ions in solution. The experiments confirmed that after 30min of exposition to contaminated water, the concentration of heavy metal ions in the algae, which initially contained small amounts of these metal ions, increased proportionally to the concentration of metal ions in solution. The presented results can be used for elaboration of a method for classification of surface waters that complies with the legal regulations.

Abstract: Low-frequency vibrations can effectively improve natural sandstone permeability, and higher vibration frequency is associated with larger permeability. However, the optimum permeability and permeability evolution mechanism for uranium leaching and the relationship between permeability and the change of chemical reactive rate affecting uranium leaching have not been determined. To solve the above problems, in this study, identical homogeneous sandstone samples were selected to simulate low-permeability sandstone; a permeability evolution model considering the combined action of vibration stress, pore water pressure, water flow impact force, and chemical erosion was established; and vibration leaching experiments were performed to test the model accuracy. Both the permeability and chemical reactions were found to simultaneously restrict U6+ leaching, and the vibration treatment increased the permeability, causing the U6+ leaching reaction to no longer be diffusion-constrained but to be primarily controlled by the reaction rate. Changes of the model calculation parameters were further analyzed to determine the permeability evolution mechanism under the influence of vibration and chemical erosion, to prove the correctness of the mechanism according to the experimental results, and to develop a new method for determining the optimum permeability in uranium leaching. The uranium leaching was found to primarily follow a process consisting of (1) a permeability control stage, (2) achieving the optimum permeability, (3) a chemical reactive rate control stage, and (4) a channel flow stage. The resolution of these problems is of great significance for facilitating the application and promotion of low-frequency vibration in the CO2 + O2 leaching process.

Abstract: To better understand the permeability of uranium sandstone, improve the leaching rate of uranium, and explore the change law of pore structure characteristics and blocking mechanism during leaching, we systematically analyzed the microstructure of acid-leaching uranium sandstone. We investigated the variable rules of pore structure characteristics based on nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR). The results showed the following: (1) The uranium concentration change followed the exponential law during uranium deposits acid leaching. After 24 h, the uranium leaching rate reached 50%. The uranium leaching slowed gradually over the next 4 days. (2) Combined with the regularity of porosity variation, Stages I and II included chemical plugging controlled by surface reaction. Stage I was the major completion phase of uranium displacement with saturation precipitation of calcium sulfate. Stage II mainly precipitated iron (III) oxide-hydroxide and aluminum hydroxide. Stage III involved physical clogging controlled by diffusion. (3) In the three stages of leaching, the permeability of the leaching solution changed with the pore structure, which first decreased, then increased, and then decreased.