Abstract
Phosphorous-rich coffinite, U(Si, P)04Ti20, from the natural nuclear reactor at Bangombe, Gabon (depth 12.25 m), has been examined as an important primary mineral and alteration product of uraninite under reducing conditions. Based on electron microprobe analyses (EMPA) and textural relationships, two distinct types of coffinite have been identified: (1) P-coffinite-(i) [with P2C)5 and (REE+Y)20, as high as 9.84 and 8.66 wt%, respectively] replaces uraninite and has a chemical formula of (FJ0.84±.0.05Y, REE 0.12±0.02Ca0.10±0.02Th 0.003±0.002)Σ1.07±o.o6(Si 0.41±0.07P0.34±0.03S 0.08±0.05) Σ0.84±0.05O4 and; (2) coffmite-(ii), lacks uraninite inclusions [with P20 5 and (Y+REE)203 up to 1.45 and 1.79 wt%, respectively] and has a chemical formula of (U0.78±0.02Ca 0.05±0.003YREE0.03±0.01 Th0.002 ±0.001) Σ0.87±0.02(Si 1.02±0.02P0.06±0.01) Σ 1.08±0.01O4- The EMPA elemental maps reveal a homogeneous distribution of P, Si, Nd, and FT in P-coffinite-(i). Charge-balance calculations indicate that S substitution for Si in the coffinite structure results in the enhancement of the incorporation of P and REEs. High EMPA totals (95-100 wt%), suggest that water is not an essential component of the coffmite structure. High-angle annular dark-field scanning transmission electron microscopy (HAADF-STEM) reveal the decomposition of single crystals of uraninite into 50 nm grains during the alteration process to P-coffmite-(i). High-resolution transmission electron microscopy (F1RTEM) and selected area electron diffraction (SAED) patterns confirm that P-cofiinite-(i) has the coffinite structure. However, P-coffmite-(i) has a large amorphous fraction probably due to radiation damage caused by a-decay events. The calculated cumulative dose for both types of coffinite varies from 1.6-1.9 x 10 18 (a-decay events/mg), which is equivalent to 134.2-161.5 displacement per atom (dpa) that have accumulated most probably during the past 800 million years.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 827-836 |
| Number of pages | 10 |
| Journal | American Mineralogist |
| Volume | 94 |
| Issue number | 5-6 |
| DOIs | |
| Publication status | Published - May 1 2009 |
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All Science Journal Classification (ASJC) codes
- Geophysics
- Geochemistry and Petrology
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Crystal chemistry and radiation-induced amorphizatlon of p-coflnlte from the natural fission reactor at bangombe, gabon. / Deditius, Artur P.; Utsunomiya, Satoshi; Wall, Matthew A.; Pointeau, Veronique; Ewing, Rodney C.
In: American Mineralogist, Vol. 94, No. 5-6, 01.05.2009, p. 827-836.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article
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TY - JOUR
T1 - Crystal chemistry and radiation-induced amorphizatlon of p-coflnlte from the natural fission reactor at bangombe, gabon
AU - Deditius, Artur P.
AU - Utsunomiya, Satoshi
AU - Wall, Matthew A.
AU - Pointeau, Veronique
AU - Ewing, Rodney C.
PY - 2009/5/1
Y1 - 2009/5/1
N2 - Phosphorous-rich coffinite, U(Si, P)04Ti20, from the natural nuclear reactor at Bangombe, Gabon (depth 12.25 m), has been examined as an important primary mineral and alteration product of uraninite under reducing conditions. Based on electron microprobe analyses (EMPA) and textural relationships, two distinct types of coffinite have been identified: (1) P-coffinite-(i) [with P2C)5 and (REE+Y)20, as high as 9.84 and 8.66 wt%, respectively] replaces uraninite and has a chemical formula of (FJ0.84±.0.05Y, REE 0.12±0.02Ca0.10±0.02Th 0.003±0.002)Σ1.07±o.o6(Si 0.41±0.07P0.34±0.03S 0.08±0.05) Σ0.84±0.05O4 and; (2) coffmite-(ii), lacks uraninite inclusions [with P20 5 and (Y+REE)203 up to 1.45 and 1.79 wt%, respectively] and has a chemical formula of (U0.78±0.02Ca 0.05±0.003YREE0.03±0.01 Th0.002 ±0.001) Σ0.87±0.02(Si 1.02±0.02P0.06±0.01) Σ 1.08±0.01O4- The EMPA elemental maps reveal a homogeneous distribution of P, Si, Nd, and FT in P-coffinite-(i). Charge-balance calculations indicate that S substitution for Si in the coffinite structure results in the enhancement of the incorporation of P and REEs. High EMPA totals (95-100 wt%), suggest that water is not an essential component of the coffmite structure. High-angle annular dark-field scanning transmission electron microscopy (HAADF-STEM) reveal the decomposition of single crystals of uraninite into 50 nm grains during the alteration process to P-coffmite-(i). High-resolution transmission electron microscopy (F1RTEM) and selected area electron diffraction (SAED) patterns confirm that P-cofiinite-(i) has the coffinite structure. However, P-coffmite-(i) has a large amorphous fraction probably due to radiation damage caused by a-decay events. The calculated cumulative dose for both types of coffinite varies from 1.6-1.9 x 10 18 (a-decay events/mg), which is equivalent to 134.2-161.5 displacement per atom (dpa) that have accumulated most probably during the past 800 million years.
AB - Phosphorous-rich coffinite, U(Si, P)04Ti20, from the natural nuclear reactor at Bangombe, Gabon (depth 12.25 m), has been examined as an important primary mineral and alteration product of uraninite under reducing conditions. Based on electron microprobe analyses (EMPA) and textural relationships, two distinct types of coffinite have been identified: (1) P-coffinite-(i) [with P2C)5 and (REE+Y)20, as high as 9.84 and 8.66 wt%, respectively] replaces uraninite and has a chemical formula of (FJ0.84±.0.05Y, REE 0.12±0.02Ca0.10±0.02Th 0.003±0.002)Σ1.07±o.o6(Si 0.41±0.07P0.34±0.03S 0.08±0.05) Σ0.84±0.05O4 and; (2) coffmite-(ii), lacks uraninite inclusions [with P20 5 and (Y+REE)203 up to 1.45 and 1.79 wt%, respectively] and has a chemical formula of (U0.78±0.02Ca 0.05±0.003YREE0.03±0.01 Th0.002 ±0.001) Σ0.87±0.02(Si 1.02±0.02P0.06±0.01) Σ 1.08±0.01O4- The EMPA elemental maps reveal a homogeneous distribution of P, Si, Nd, and FT in P-coffinite-(i). Charge-balance calculations indicate that S substitution for Si in the coffinite structure results in the enhancement of the incorporation of P and REEs. High EMPA totals (95-100 wt%), suggest that water is not an essential component of the coffmite structure. High-angle annular dark-field scanning transmission electron microscopy (HAADF-STEM) reveal the decomposition of single crystals of uraninite into 50 nm grains during the alteration process to P-coffmite-(i). High-resolution transmission electron microscopy (F1RTEM) and selected area electron diffraction (SAED) patterns confirm that P-cofiinite-(i) has the coffinite structure. However, P-coffmite-(i) has a large amorphous fraction probably due to radiation damage caused by a-decay events. The calculated cumulative dose for both types of coffinite varies from 1.6-1.9 x 10 18 (a-decay events/mg), which is equivalent to 134.2-161.5 displacement per atom (dpa) that have accumulated most probably during the past 800 million years.
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U2 - 10.2138/am.2009.3114
DO - 10.2138/am.2009.3114
M3 - Article
AN - SCOPUS:68549120882
VL - 94
SP - 827
EP - 836
JO - American Mineralogist
JF - American Mineralogist
SN - 0003-004X
IS - 5-6
ER -