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OXYGEN ISOTOPE FRACTIONATION IN URANIUM OXIDES

OXYGEN ISOTOPE FRACTIONATION IN URANIUM OXIDES

Zheng Yongfei
Nuclear Science and TechniquesVol.6, No.4pp.193-197Published in print 01 Nov 1995
20601

Thermodynamic oxygen isotope factors for uranium oxides have been calculated by means of the modified increment method. The sequence of 18O-enrichment in the uranium oxides with respect to the common rock-forming minerals is predicted as follows: spinel < uraninite ≤ brannerite ≤ hematite < rutile < pitchblende < cassiterite ≤ uranium blacks ≤ coffinite < sedovite ≤ UO3 < illite. Two sets of self-consistent fractionation factors between the uranium oxides and water and between the uranium oxides and the other minerals have been obtained for 0~ 1200°C. The theoretical results are applicable to the isotopic geothermometry of uranium ores when pairing with other gangue minerals in hydrothermal uranium deposits.

Oxygen isotopesFractionationsTheoretical calculationsUranium oxidesGeothermometry
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