An EPR study of native radiation-induced paramagnetic defects in sudoite (di–trioctahedral Al–Mg chlorite) from the alteration halo related to unconformity-type uranium deposits

Abstract

Natural radiation-induced defects were identified in specimens of sudoite (Al–Mg di-trioctahedral chlorite) related to unconformity-type uranium deposits at the base of the Athabasca Group (Saskatchewan, Canada), using electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) spectroscopy at X- and Q-band frequencies. X-band spectra indicate the presence of a main native defect, named the As-center, whose EPR signal is dominated by an axially distorted spectrum with apparent principal components as follows: g// = 2,051 and g⊥ = 2,005, and a secondary defect with apparent component g = 2,025. The study of oriented specimens shows that the main defect has its g// component perpendicular to the (ab) plane of sudoite. The As-center corresponds to an electron hole located on oxygen atoms of the structure and is likely associated with Si, according to the lack of hyperfine structure. The As-center in sudoite has EPR parameters similar to the A-center in kaolinite and dickite, and the Ai-center in illite. The saturation behavior of EPR spectra as a function of power demonstrates that native defects of sudoite are different from those known in other clays, such as kaolinite, dickite or smectite, but are similar to those of illite. The isochronal annealing data suggest that the main defect in sudoite is stable to more than 300°C. The corresponding defects characterized in sudoite may have the potential for tracing past radionuclide migration around unconformity-type uranium deposits.