Crystal chemistry and radiation-induced amorphization of P-coffinite from the natural fission reactor at Bangombe, Gabon

A.P. Deditius; S. Utsunomiya; M.A. Wall; V. Pointeau; R.C. Ewing

doi:10.2138/am.2009.3114

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Crystal chemistry and radiation-induced amorphization of P-coffinite from the natural fission reactor at Bangombe, Gabon

Journal article

Peer reviewed

Crystal chemistry and radiation-induced amorphization of P-coffinite from the natural fission reactor at Bangombe, Gabon

A.P. Deditius, S. Utsunomiya, M.A. Wall, V. Pointeau and R.C. Ewing

American Mineralogist, Vol.94(5-6), pp.827-837

2009

DOI: https://doi.org/10.2138/am.2009.3114

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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.

Details

Title: Crystal chemistry and radiation-induced amorphization of P-coffinite from the natural fission reactor at Bangombe, Gabon
Authors/Creators: A.P. Deditius (Author/Creator) - University of Michigan
S. Utsunomiya (Author/Creator) - Kyushu University
M.A. Wall (Author/Creator) - University of Michigan
V. Pointeau (Author/Creator) - CEA Paris-Saclay
R.C. Ewing (Author/Creator) - University of Michigan
Publication Details: American Mineralogist, Vol.94(5-6), pp.827-837
Publisher: Mineralogical Society of America
Identifiers: 991005543219907891
Murdoch Affiliation: Murdoch University
Language: English
Resource Type: Journal article

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Collaboration types: Domestic collaboration; International collaboration
Citation topics: 8 Earth Sciences; 8.242 Nuclear Geology; 8.242.1362 Uranium Chemistry
Web Of Science research areas: Geochemistry & Geophysics; Mineralogy
ESI research areas: Geosciences