Uranium depositional controls at the Prairie Flats surficial uranium deposit, Summerland, British Columbia

Abstract

A hydrological and geochemical investigation of the Prairie Flats surficial uranium deposit in Summerland, BC was undertaken to identify the principal controls on uranium deposition. A network of piezometers was installed and used to measure the hydraulic conductivities of the host sediments as well as the general flow direction and aqueous geochemistry of the resident groundwaters. Two hydrostratigraphic units were identified: a peat and clay unit overlying a sand and gravel unit. Measured hydraulic conductivities were on the order of 10–7 and 10–5 m/s, respectively, and the vertical hydraulic gradients indicate significant groundwater discharge upward into the peat and clay unit. Prairie Flats groundwaters are neutral to alkaline in pH, enriched in Ca2+ and HCO3 –, and have dissolved uranium concentrations ranging from 10 to nearly 1,000 µg/l. Groundwater flow and geochemistry data were used to estimate the flux of uranium in groundwater at the site. A major fraction of the uranium is taken up by adsorption to organics. There is also evidence for subsequent desorption by the formation of soluble complexes with bicarbonate. Uranium that is not held by adsorption is most likely precipitated as uraninite, UO2(c). Reducing conditions in the peat and clay unit (Eh 0.2 V) may explain the high concentrations of uranium nearer ground surface. The current flux of uranium into the flats is significantly smaller than that calculated from the size and age of the deposit, which may be an indication of changing rates of deposition in response to varying climatic and hydrogeologic conditions over time.