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Evidence and uncertainty for uranium and thorium abundance: A review

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Evidence and uncertainty for uranium and thorium abundance: A review. / Degueldre, C.; Joyce, M.J.
In: Progress in Nuclear Energy, Vol. 124, 103299, 01.06.2020.

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Degueldre C, Joyce MJ. Evidence and uncertainty for uranium and thorium abundance: A review. Progress in Nuclear Energy. 2020 Jun 1;124:103299. Epub 2020 Apr 8. doi: 10.1016/j.pnucene.2020.103299

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@article{5a0d623167464deeab5f6460c763c321,
title = "Evidence and uncertainty for uranium and thorium abundance: A review",
abstract = "The actinides are thought to have been generated by the rapid neutron capture (r)-process in a supernova at the origin of the solar system (4.6 × 10 9 an ago) or even before. Thus, given the generation processes for thorium, Th, and uranium, U, (and their precursors) are somewhat similar, the difference in half-lives ( 232Th: 14.05 × 10 9 a, and 238U: 4.468 × 10 9 a) would suggest a larger abundance of Th than U be present today. However, the chemistry of U is very different to that of Th which could suggest different pathways to explain the different concentrations of Th and U in various formations and local deposits of UO 2. Focussing on the accessible geosphere of the Earth (i.e., the crust and hydrosphere), the evidence for the presence of these actinide elements in the liquid and solid rocks was examined. This study discusses why, in seawater, soluble Th (5 × 10 −11 M) is more depleted than U (1.4 × 10 −8 M), and why solid ores of pure UO 2 or U 3O 8 are relatively common while ThO 2 deposits are quasi-non-existent. Thorium is rather diluted in rock, relative to uranium, requiring that more mining, milling and treatment is necessary to recover it on comparable scales. This paper discusses and compares the abundances of U and Th in the universe and more specifically in the Earth's accessible geosphere as well as the extent of their known, economically-recoverable resources. ",
keywords = "Actinide abundance, Natural actinide exploitable, Thorium amount on earth, Uranium amount on earth, Deposits, Thoria, Uranium dioxide, Actinide elements, Generation process, Geospheres, Half lives, Neutron capture, Recoverable resource, Thorium abundances, Uranium",
author = "C. Degueldre and M.J. Joyce",
year = "2020",
month = jun,
day = "1",
doi = "10.1016/j.pnucene.2020.103299",
language = "English",
volume = "124",
journal = "Progress in Nuclear Energy",
issn = "0149-1970",
publisher = "Elsevier Ltd",

}

RIS

TY - JOUR

T1 - Evidence and uncertainty for uranium and thorium abundance

T2 - A review

AU - Degueldre, C.

AU - Joyce, M.J.

PY - 2020/6/1

Y1 - 2020/6/1

N2 - The actinides are thought to have been generated by the rapid neutron capture (r)-process in a supernova at the origin of the solar system (4.6 × 10 9 an ago) or even before. Thus, given the generation processes for thorium, Th, and uranium, U, (and their precursors) are somewhat similar, the difference in half-lives ( 232Th: 14.05 × 10 9 a, and 238U: 4.468 × 10 9 a) would suggest a larger abundance of Th than U be present today. However, the chemistry of U is very different to that of Th which could suggest different pathways to explain the different concentrations of Th and U in various formations and local deposits of UO 2. Focussing on the accessible geosphere of the Earth (i.e., the crust and hydrosphere), the evidence for the presence of these actinide elements in the liquid and solid rocks was examined. This study discusses why, in seawater, soluble Th (5 × 10 −11 M) is more depleted than U (1.4 × 10 −8 M), and why solid ores of pure UO 2 or U 3O 8 are relatively common while ThO 2 deposits are quasi-non-existent. Thorium is rather diluted in rock, relative to uranium, requiring that more mining, milling and treatment is necessary to recover it on comparable scales. This paper discusses and compares the abundances of U and Th in the universe and more specifically in the Earth's accessible geosphere as well as the extent of their known, economically-recoverable resources.

AB - The actinides are thought to have been generated by the rapid neutron capture (r)-process in a supernova at the origin of the solar system (4.6 × 10 9 an ago) or even before. Thus, given the generation processes for thorium, Th, and uranium, U, (and their precursors) are somewhat similar, the difference in half-lives ( 232Th: 14.05 × 10 9 a, and 238U: 4.468 × 10 9 a) would suggest a larger abundance of Th than U be present today. However, the chemistry of U is very different to that of Th which could suggest different pathways to explain the different concentrations of Th and U in various formations and local deposits of UO 2. Focussing on the accessible geosphere of the Earth (i.e., the crust and hydrosphere), the evidence for the presence of these actinide elements in the liquid and solid rocks was examined. This study discusses why, in seawater, soluble Th (5 × 10 −11 M) is more depleted than U (1.4 × 10 −8 M), and why solid ores of pure UO 2 or U 3O 8 are relatively common while ThO 2 deposits are quasi-non-existent. Thorium is rather diluted in rock, relative to uranium, requiring that more mining, milling and treatment is necessary to recover it on comparable scales. This paper discusses and compares the abundances of U and Th in the universe and more specifically in the Earth's accessible geosphere as well as the extent of their known, economically-recoverable resources.

KW - Actinide abundance

KW - Natural actinide exploitable

KW - Thorium amount on earth

KW - Uranium amount on earth

KW - Deposits

KW - Thoria

KW - Uranium dioxide

KW - Actinide elements

KW - Generation process

KW - Geospheres

KW - Half lives

KW - Neutron capture

KW - Recoverable resource

KW - Thorium abundances

KW - Uranium

U2 - 10.1016/j.pnucene.2020.103299

DO - 10.1016/j.pnucene.2020.103299

M3 - Review article

VL - 124

JO - Progress in Nuclear Energy

JF - Progress in Nuclear Energy

SN - 0149-1970

M1 - 103299

ER -