Oxidation state and accumulation of uranium in hydrothermal REE minerals

Tobias G. Bamforth; Barbara Etschmann; Joël Brugger; Fang Xia; Udo Becker; Ignacio González-Álvarez; Maryam O. Abdus-Salam; Paul Guagliardo; Andrew Langendam; Jeremy Wykes

doi:10.1016/j.jhazmat.2025.140549

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Oxidation state and accumulation of uranium in hydrothermal REE minerals

Journal article

Open access

Peer reviewed

Oxidation state and accumulation of uranium in hydrothermal REE minerals

Tobias G. Bamforth, Barbara Etschmann, Joël Brugger, Fang Xia, Udo Becker, Ignacio González-Álvarez, Maryam O. Abdus-Salam, Paul Guagliardo, Andrew Langendam and Jeremy Wykes

Journal of hazardous materials, Vol.500, 140549

2025

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jhazmat.2025.140549

PMID: 41289669

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Abstract

Critical metals

Hydrothermal

Rare-earth elements

Uranium

XAS

To meet growing demand for renewable technologies that will mitigate climate change, the world requires a sustainable supply of rare earth elements (REEs). Uranium (U) is a common impurity in REE ores that causes socio-environmental challenges during mining and processing. Sustainable REE extraction thus relies on targeting ores with little U, which necessitates an understanding of the conditions under which U accumulates in REE minerals. Here we show that rhabdophane and monazite – two common hydrothermal REE ore minerals – can incorporate U in its oxidised U(V) and U(VI) forms. Contrary to current understanding, this demonstrates that reducing conditions are not required for U to accumulate in hydrothermal REE minerals. Rather, the higher availabilities of U in oxidising and/or Ce-poor fluids can also drive significant accumulation. Four redox scenarios are consequently theorized for predicting the capacity of aqueous-fluid-affected REE ores for accumulating U. This framework may assist in evaluating the environmental sustainability of various REE deposits, thereby guiding decisions on exploration and extraction. Results also confirm the capacity of both minerals to immobilise fluid-soluble U(VI) during formation, with implications for their application as mineral barriers in U-contaminated systems. [Display omitted]

Details

Title: Oxidation state and accumulation of uranium in hydrothermal REE minerals
Authors/Creators: Tobias G. Bamforth - Murdoch University
Barbara Etschmann - Monash University
Joël Brugger - Monash University
Fang Xia - Murdoch University, Centre for Water, Energy and Waste
Udo Becker - University of Michigan
Ignacio González-Álvarez - Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO), Kensington, Western Australia 6151, Australia
Maryam O. Abdus-Salam - Monash University
Paul Guagliardo - The University of Western Australia
Andrew Langendam - Australian Nuclear Science and Technology Organisation
Jeremy Wykes - Australian Nuclear Science and Technology Organisation
Publication Details: Journal of hazardous materials, Vol.500, 140549
Publisher: Elsevier B.V.
Identifiers: 991005831947007891
Murdoch Affiliation: Harry Butler Institute; School of Mathematics, Statistics, Chemistry and Physics; Centre for Water, Energy and Waste
Language: English
Resource Type: Journal article

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