High Uranium Content Research Articles

Mycorrhiza and root hairs in barley enhance acquisition of phosphorus and uranium from phosphate rock but mycorrhiza decreases root to shoot uranium transfer

Some phosphate rocks (PR) contain high concentrations of uranium (U), which are potentially toxic via accumulation in soils and food chains, and plant uptake of U is likely to be influenced by characteristics of roots and associated microorganisms. The relative importance of root hairs and mycorrhiza in U uptake from PR was studied using a root hairless barley (Hordeum vulgare) mutant (Brb) and its wild type (WT). Both plant genotypes were grown in pots with Glomus intraradices BEG 87, or in the absence of mycorrhiza, and three P treatments were included: nil P, 2% (w/w) PR and 50 mg KH(2)PO(4)-P kg(-1) soil. Mycorrhiza markedly increased d. wts and P contents of Brb amended with nil P or PR, but generally depressed d. wts of WT plants, irrespective of P amendments. Mycorrhiza had contrasting effects on U contents in roots and shoots, in particular in Brb where mycorrhiza increased root U concentrations but decreased U translocation from roots to shoots. The experiment supports our understanding of arbuscular mycorrhiza as being multifunctional by not only improving the utilization of PR by the host plant but also by contributing to the phytostabilization of uranium.

Bone as a Possible Target of Chemical Toxicity of Natural Uranium in Drinking Water

Uranium accumulates in bone, affects bone metabolism in laboratory animals, and when ingested in drinking water increases urinary excretion of calcium and phosphate, important components in the bone structure. However, little is known about bone effects of ingested natural uranium in humans. We studied 146 men and 142 women 26–83 years of age who for an average of 13 years had used drinking water originating from wells drilled in bedrock, in areas with naturally high uranium content. Biochemical indicators of bone formation were serum osteocalcin and amino-terminal propeptide of type I procollagen, and a marker for bone resorption was serum type I collagen carboxy-terminal telopeptide (CTx). The primary measure of uranium exposure was uranium concentration in drinking water, with additional information on uranium intake and uranium concentration in urine. The data were analyzed separately for men and women with robust regression (which suppresses contributions of potential influential observations) models with adjustment for age, smoking, and estrogen use. The median uranium concentration in drinking water was 27 μg/L (interquartile range, 6–116 μg/L). The median of daily uranium intake was 36 μg (7–207 μg) and of cumulative intake 0.12 g (0.02–0.66 g). There was some suggestion that elevation of CTx (p = 0.05) as well as osteocalcin (p = 0.19) could be associated with increased uranium exposure (uranium in water and intakes) in men, but no similar relationship was found in women. Accordingly, bone may be a target of chemical toxicity of uranium in humans, and more detailed evaluation of bone effects of natural uranium is warranted.

Kinetic and thermodynamic studies of the dissolution of thoria-urania solid solutions

The dissolution of Th 1− x U x O 2 was investigated through leaching experiments combined with X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) and X-ray absorption spectroscopy (XAS) analyses. These experiments were performed in acidic and in oxidizing conditions (nitric solutions), for several compositions of solid solutions ranging from x = 0.24 to 0.81. Static sequential experiments in acidic media performed at room temperature confirmed that higher concentration of uranium in the solid solution leads to higher release of uranium in the leachate whatever the pH. The normalized dissolution rate in oxidizing media is increasing all the more the content of uranium is increases in the mixed oxide. While for Th enriched solids, kinetic parameters remain similar to that of ThO 2, in the case of uranium enriched solids, a drastic change is observed, and kinetic parameters are similar to that of UO 2 ones. For x > 0.50, the saturation is reached in the leachate after 100 days. XPS and EXAFS analysis on leached samples pointed out an oxidation of U(IV) at the surface for x < 0.5, and in the bulk for x > 0.5. Enrichment in Th is also observed at the surface of the solid, indicating the formation of a protective layer of hydrated thorium oxide, or hydroxide. Finally, the solubility product of secondary phase was determined. The values obtained are in good agreement with that of ThO 2, Th(OH) 4 and ThO 2, xH 2O reported in the literature.

Tracing groundwater from uranium rich environments by 36Cl isotope method: possibilities for natural analogue studies

Using 36Cl dissolved in groundwater as a monitor of subsurface neutron fluxes makes it possible to obtain information on the composition of the rocks interacting with the groundwater flow. In particular, the concentrations of uranium and thorium can be evaluated, which are dominant source of subsurface neutrons. This can provide information in connection with exploration of uranium ore deposits. Based on the results of several case studies from aquifers in crystalline rocks with moderate to high uranium contents, it is demonstrated that groundwater especially from uranium ore deposits shows characteristic 36Cl concentrations which are high above today's levels of atmospheric precipitation even for young groundwater of short residence times.

Spectroscopic and diffraction study of uranium speciation in contaminated vadose zone sediments from the Hanford site, Washington state.

Contamination of vadose zone sediments under tank BX-102 at the Hanford site, Washington, resulted from the accidental release of 7-8 metric tons of uranium dissolved in caustic aqueous sludge in 1951. We have applied synchrotron-based X-ray spectroscopic and diffraction techniques to characterize the speciation of uranium in samples of these contaminated sediments. UIII-edge X-ray absorption fine structure (XAFS) spectroscopic studies demonstrate that uranium occurs predominantly as a uranium(VI) silicate from the uranophane group of minerals. XAFS cannot distinguish between the members of this mineral group due to the near identical local coordination environments of uranium in these phases. However, these phases differ crystallographically, and can be distinguished using X-ray diffraction (XRD) methods. As the concentration of uranium was too low for conventional XRD to detect these phases, X-ray microdiffraction (microXRD) was used to collect diffraction patterns on approximately 20 microm diameter areas of localized high uranium concentration found using microscanning X-ray fluorescence (microSXRF). Only sodium boltwoodite, Na(UO2)(SiO3OH) x 1.5H20, was observed; no other uranophane group minerals were present. Sodium boltwoodite formation has effectively sequestered uranium in these sediments under the current geochemical and hydrologic conditions. Attempts to remediate the uranium contamination will likely face significant difficulties because of the speciation and distribution of uranium in the sediments.

REE-bearing petscheckite from Tiltvika, Nordland, Norway, and its heating products

X-ray powder-diffraction investigation of a mineral sample from the Tiltvika granite pegmatite, Norway, shows the presence of a metamict phase with ferrocolumbite inclusions. On heating at 650 °C for 21 hours, the diffraction pattern of petscheckite, a hexagonal mineral with idealized formula U 4 + Fe 2 + (Nb,Ta) 2 O 8 , is observed. The Tiltvika petscheckite is rich in REEs and has the general formula (U,REE)(Fe 2 + , Fe 3 + )(Nb,Ta) 2 (O,OH) 8 . Its unit-cell parameters are a = 6.42(2), c = 4.02(1) A. Heating at 1000 °C for 21 hours yields a phase with columbite-type structure and a pattern very close to that reported for heated wolframoixiolite. Assuming space group Pcan, this phase has unit-cell parameters a = 5.005(5), b = 14.05(2), c = 5.64(1) A. The high content of α-emitting uranium could explain the metamictization of a primary petscheckite. On the other hand, it is possible that an unknown primary mineral with complex composition has disintegrated into microexolutions of phases with simple stoichiometry, which have recombined to petscheckite on heating at 650 °C. For practical purposes, however, petscheckite as a metamict mineral species must be defined by its chemical composition and the characteristic X-ray powder pattern that it gives on heating to 650 °C.

Uranium deposition and retention in a USTUR whole body case.

This report describes a whole body donation from a person with a documented occupational intake of uranium. USTUR Case 1002 was an adult male who died from an acute cerebellar infarct at the age of 83. He worked as a power operator, utility operator, and metal operator for 28 years in a facility that processed and handled radioactive materials. Although he suffered a number of burns from hot metal and acids, cuts, abrasions, and puncture wounds during his many years of work, there were no corresponding health physics or medical records to indicate that these occurrences needed or required excision or decontamination due to the suspicion of the deposition of radioactive material. Over the course of his employment, USTUR Case 1002 submitted numerous urine samples for uranium, plutonium, and fission product analysis. The highest single uranium value measured during this time period was approximately 30 microg L(-1) recorded during the second year of his employment. A urinary bioassay sample taken before termination of employment measured 4.3 microg L(-1). The mean urinary uranium concentration per liter per year calculated from the employee's bioassay records covering the first eleven years of monitoring averaged less than 3 microg L(-1). The ratio of 234/238U activity in the lung tissue was about 1, the same as that found in natural uranium. The highest concentration of uranium was found in a tracheobronchial lymph node. The uranium content in the various tissues of the body followed a rank order lung > skeleton > liver > kidney. Concentration of uranium in the kidney tissue was approximately 1.98 ng g(-1), about 3 orders of magnitude less than the generally accepted threshold level for permanent kidney damage of 3 microg U g(-1) and roughly equal to the 1.4 ng g(-1) reported for Reference Man. The autopsy disclosed findings not uncommon in the aged: severe atherosclerosis, areas of sclerotic kidney glomeruli with stromal fibrous scarring, and moderate to severe arterionephrosclerosis. Lung sections contained parenchymal areas of acute vascular congestion and a mild degree of anthracosis.

Preventing uranium hydride formation in standard uranium samples for determination of239Pu by ICP-MS

UH+ interference poses considerable difficulties for the determination of 239Pu in samples with high uranium content. A new approach for reducing this interference was developed. Substitution of water with heavy water (D2O) as a solvent in uranium standard solution eliminated the major source of UH+ ions and reduced the UH+/U+ ratio from a typical value of 1.33 × 10−5 to a very low value of 2.60 × 10−7. The method allows the determination of low levels of 239Pu in samples containing 106 fold excess of uranium. The detection limit for 239Pu in a sample containing 10 ppm of uranium was determined as 0.58 ± 0.03 ppt. A kinetic isotope effect of ca. 1.4 was observed for the reaction of U+ with hydrogen (H) compared with the reaction with deuterium (D). The magnitude of this effect is in agreement with the value calculated based on the collision theory.

Uranium pollution of South African streams ? An overview of the situation in gold mining areas of the Witwatersrand

During more than a century of gold mining in South Africa large amounts of tailings were produced, which now cover vast areas in densely populated regions. These dumps contain elevated levels of uranium and other toxic heavy metals associated with gold in the mined ore. Large-scale extraction of uranium from auriferous ore only took place during the cold war, leaving tailings with high uranium concentrations that were deposited before and after this period. Recent studies found elevated levels of the radioactive heavy metal in groundwater and streams, mainly attributed to the discharge of contaminated water from mines. In this paper the contribution of seepage from slimes dams to the uranium pollution of adjacent streams is analysed. Based on geochemical analyses of samples, field observations and long-term in situ measurements of hydraulic and hydrochemical parameters at selected mining sites across the Witwatersrand goldfields, the extent, mechanisms and dynamics of diffuse stream contamination by tailings seepage is characterised. Temporal and spatial variations of the process and the associated hazard potential are discussed.

Zirconolite-Based Ceramic Formulations for Immobilization of Zr-REE-Actinide Fraction of HLW

AbstractTwo ceramics for immobilization of a Zr-REE-actinide fraction of high level waste (HLW) based on zirconolite or/and pyrochlore structures with minor brannerite/lucasite, and fluorite-structured dioxide-based solid solution, were synthesized and characterized. The samples were produced by melting of oxide mixtures at 1500 °C followed by controlled cooling for crystallization. Phase compositions of the samples obtained and waste elements partitioning among co-existing phases were investigated in detail using powder X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy with energy dispersive spectroscopy, and transmission electron microscopy. Cerium enters cerianite-based solid solution, lucasite (if present), and to a lesser extent, pyrochlore and zirconolite. Europium and gadolinium enter predominantly zirconolite and pyrochlore. The highest uranium concentrations were found in a uraninite-based cubic solid solution or pyrochlore and zirconolite.

Application of the can technique and radon gas analyzer for radon exhalation measurements

A passive “can technique” and an active radon gas analyzer with an emanation container were applied for radon exhalation rate measurements from different construction materials, viz. five marble seven ceramic and 100 granite tiles used in Saudi Arabia. The marble and ceramic tiles did not show detectable radon exhalation using the active radon gas analyzer system. However the granite tiles showed relatively high radon exhalations, indicating a relatively high uranium content. A comparison of the radon exhalation rates measured by the two techniques showed a linear correlation coefficient of 0.57. The radon exhalation rates from the granites varied from 0.02 to 6.58 Bq m −2 h −1 with an average of 1.35±1.40 Bq m −2 h −1. The geometric mean and the geometric standard deviation of the frequency distribution were found to be 0.80 and 3.1, respectively. The track density found on the nuclear track detectors in the can technique exposed to the granites, having high exhalation rates, varied linearly with exposure time with a linear correlation coefficient of 0.99. This experimental finding agrees with the theoretical prediction. The can technique showed sensitivity to low radon exhalation rates from ceramic, marble and some granite over a period of 2 months, which were not detectable by the active radon gas analyzer system. The reproducibility of data with both measuring techniques was found to be within a 7% deviation.

Lichens as biomonitors of uranium and other trace elements in an area of Kosovo heavily shelled with depleted uranium rounds

Abstract This paper reports the results of a study using lichens as biomonitors to investigate the small-scale environmental distribution of uranium and other trace elements in an area of Kosovo (Djakovica) heavily shelled with depleted uranium (DU) anti-tank ammunition. The results of total uranium concentrations showed great variability and species-specific differences, mainly due to differences in the exposed surface area of the lichens. The uranium concentrations in lichen samples were rather similar at a site heavily shelled with DU ammunition and at a control site. Unexpectedly, the highest uranium concentrations were found at the control site. The observed U distribution can be explained by contamination of lichen thalli by soil particles. The soil geochemistry was similar at the two sampling sites. The 235 U / 238 U ratios in the soil samples suggested a modest DU contribution only at the heavily shelled site. Measurements of U isotopes in lichens did not reveal DU pollution at the control site. The U isotopic ratios in lichens at the shelled site showed variable figures; only two samples were clearly contaminated by DU. There were no signs of contamination by other trace elements.

Source concentration and count rate effects for a nuclear waste monitoring system

The United States Department of Energy Grand Junction Office (DOE−GJO) recently developed and deployed a passive total-count γ-ray logging system to monitor subsurface plumes of nuclear waste at the DOE Hanford Site in the state of Washington. High count rate effects for the three thallium-activated sodium iodide (NaI(Tl)) detectors were investigated because zones of intense radiation are frequently encountered. Total count rates and “filtered” count rates were determined from γ-ray spectra collected by logging DOE−GJO natural-uranium-bearing calibration standards. Each filtered rate was calculated by dividing the counts in the part of the spectrum above 570 keV by the counting time. Filtered count rates were linear in relation to uranium concentration, even for high uranium concentrations, but total count rates for high uranium concentrations fell below the values predicted by extrapolating the count-rate-versus-uranium-concentration graphs that were nearly linear at lower concentrations. The physics of low energy photon absorption explains why the total count rate did not rise in proportion to the uranium concentration. Low energy photons contribute significantly to the total count and, within calibration standard media, the rate of creation of such photons is proportional to the uranium concentration. However, the low energy photon flux does not grow linearly with the uranium concentration because of the Z effect: An increase in the Z (average atomic number) of a medium is accompanied by a large increase in the fraction of low energy photons absorbed in the medium. Elevated Z values are obviously associated with elevated uranium concentrations because uranium has a high atomic number. Logging systems with high-purity germanium (HPGe) detectors that are also operated by DOE−GJO to assess nuclear waste at the Hanford Site are calibrated using DOE uranium-bearing standards. With spectra associated with uranium activities higher than about 2000 pCi/g, line intensities for γ-rays with energies below about 500 keV are not directly proportional to source concentration, and are not used for calibration.

Plant availability of uranium in contaminated soil from Crucea Mine (Romania)

A study of uranium distribution in soils and plants was conducted over the Crucea area (northern Romania). The elements most susceptible to HNO3 extraction (more than 65%) are cobalt, copper, nickel, lead, and zinc; less extractable are elements such as barium, chromium, strontium, and vanadium. Uranium and thorium show a relatively high percentage of extraction, e.g., 50.7 and 55.7%, respectively. Generally, high correlation coefficients exist between total and partial extractions. The highest correlation coefficients (r 0.90) are for uranium, cobalt, copper, nickel, lead, and zinc. Analyses of the forest vegetation indicated that, in general, uranium is preferentially concentrated in the roots, followed by the twigs and leaves. Higher values of uranium content in plant samples from Crucea ore deposit area may be correlated with higher uranium contents in the soil and rock samples from this area. The study indicates that fir Abies alba has higher uptake of uranium than any other vegetation species present in this area.

Radon-rich waters in Russia

In radon mineral curative waters, according to Russian mineral water classification, the radon concentration should be greater than 185 Bq/l. There are about 30 mineral waters with high levels of radon in Russia. Radon-rich waters have high therapeutic effects. It is proven that natural background radiation stimulates the human immune system. Radon is a natural radioactive gas that has no taste, smell or color. Radon-222 is one of the heaviest elements in the zero groups of inert gases. It is a gaseous radioactive element. All radon isotopes are α-emitters while the transformation of its decay products is accompanied by the emitting of α-or β-particles. The main products of radon decay are short-lived isotopes Po, Pb, Bi, and TL. Belonging to the uranium and thorium decay chain, radon isotopes form directly during the decay of radium isotopes. Therefore the radon concentration depends upon the concentration of its parent's isotope in water and rocks washed by it as well as upon the amount of radon emanation. Loose rocks or rocks with a great number of cracks are characterized by higher radon concentration (zones of tectonic disturbance, weathering crusts, etc.).Crystalline rocks usually have higher uranium concentrations than the average bedrock. Examples of rock types, which often have enhanced uranium concentration >5% ppm U includes the following: granites, syenites, pegmatite, acid volcanic rocks and acid gneisses. In the earth's crust radon migrates either in a gaseous or dissolved state. It can go to the surface without any chemical reaction. Formation of the radon-rich therapeutics waters of Russia has been analyzed, and most of them are genetically connected to crystalline acid rocks that have exceeded uranium-radium mineralization. The radon content in Russia reaches more than 8,000 Bq/l. Radon-rich waters of this type occur in the Altai, Karelia, St Petersburg and Trans-Baikal regions. Another type is connected to geodynamic activity of regions and secondary radioactivity. A well-known example of radon-rich waters of the second type is Pyatigorsk in the North Caucasus. Mixing confined carbon dioxide-hydrogen sulfide water and unconfined groundwater forms radon waters. The radon concentration is 1,170–2,430 Bq/l. The occurrence of radon-rich water deposits in other regions of Russia is described. Further investigation of the radon content in other geological environments will contribute to the environmental safety as well as to the solution to many genetic, hydrogeochronological, paleoreconstructive and prediction problems in hydrogeology.

Human exposure to uranium in groundwater

High concentrations of uranium (mean=620 μg/L) were detected in water samples collected from private wells in a residential community. Based on isotopic analyses, the source of the uranium contamination appeared to be from naturally occurring geological deposits. In homes where well water concentrations of uranium exceeded the drinking water standard, the residents were advised to use an alternate water source for potable purposes. Several months after the residents had stopped drinking the water, urine samples were collected and tested for uranium. Elevated concentrations of uranium (mean=0.40 μg/g creatinine) were detected in urine samples, and 85 percent of the urine uranium concentrations exceeded the 95th percentile concentration of a national reference population. Urine uranium concentrations were positively correlated with water uranium concentrations, but not with the participants’ ages or how long they had been drinking the water. Six months later, a second urine sample was collected and tested for uranium. Urine uranium concentrations decreased in most (63 percent) of the people. In those people with the highest initial urine uranium concentrations, the urine levels decreased an average of 78 percent. However, urine uranium concentrations remained elevated (mean=0.27 μg/g), and 87 percent of the urine uranium concentrations exceeded the 95th percentile concentration of the reference population. The results of this investigation demonstrated that after long-term ingestion of uranium in drinking water, elevated concentrations of uranium in urine could be detected up to 10 months after exposure had stopped.

Determination of the uranium content of Egyptian phosphate ores by passive and active detectors

Uranium contents of phosphate ores and fertilizers collected from El-Sobaeya and El-Suez mines in Egypt were determined by measuring the radon emanated from these samples. In our method, neither direct contact of CR-39 track detectors to the samples nor thermal neutron activation process is required. The concentration of 222 Rn in the emanation container (Genitron Instruments GmbH) is dependent on the uranium deposited in the phosphate sample. The CR-39 and a pulse ionization chamber, Alpha GUARD PQ-2000 (Genitron Instruments GmbH) were simultaneously used for radon detection. The detection efficiency of CR-39 was calibrated with the Alpha GUARD. The uranium content determinations were performed using a high-resolution inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometer for comparison. The measurements revealed a very high uranium content, 355 ppm for ore and 118 ppm for fertilizer from El-Sobaeya mine, while it was 7 ppm for fertilizer from El-Suez. Although the uranium content of ores from El-Sobaeya mine is within permissible limit for the manufacturing of fertilizers, the phosphate ore from El-Suez is much safer for fertilizers.

Use of organophosphorus extractants impregnated on silica gel for the extraction chromatographic separation of minor actinides from high level waste solutions

Silica-gel has been used as an inert support for the extraction chromatographic separation of actinides and lanthanides from HNO3 and synthetic high level waste (HLW) solutions. Silica-gel was impregnated with tri-butyl phosphate (TBP), to yield STBP; 2-ethylhexyl phosphonic acid, mono 2-ethylhexyl ester (KSM-17, equivalent to PC-88A), SKSM; octyl(phenyl)-N,N-diisobutyl carbamoylmethylphosphine oxide (CMPO), SCMPO; and trialkylphosphine oxide (Cyanex-923), SCYN and sorption of Pu(IV), Am(III) and Eu(III) from HNO3 solutions was studied batchwise. Several parameters, like time of equilibration, HNO3 and Pu(IV) concentrations were varied. The uptake of Pu(IV) from 3.0M HNO3 followed the order SCMPO>SCYN>SKSM>STBP. With increasing HNO3 concentration, DPu increased up to 3.0M of HNO3 for STBP, SKSM and SCMPO and then decreased. In the case of Am and Eu with SCMPO, the D values initially increased between 0.5 to 1.0M of HNO3, remained constant up to 5.0M and then slightly decreased at 7.5M. Also, the effects of NaNO3, Nd(III) and U(VI) concentrations on the uptake of Am(III) from HNO3 solutions were evaluated. With increasing NaNO3 concentration up to 3.0M, DAm remained almost constant while it was observed that it decreases drastically by adding Nd(III) or U(VI). The uptake of Pu and Am from synthetic pressurized heavy water reactor high level waste (PHWR-HLW) in presence of high concentrations of uranium and after depleting the uranium content, and finally extraction chromatographic column separation of Pu and Am from U-depleted synthetic PHWR-HLW have been carried out. Using SCMPO, high sorption of Pu, Am and U was obtained from the U-depleted HLW solution. These metal ions were subsequently eluted using various reagents. The sorption results of the metal ions on silica-gel impregnated with several phosphorus based extractants have been compared. The uptake of Am, Pu and rare earths by SCMPO has been compared with those where CMPO was sorbed on Chromosorb-102, Amberchrom CG-71 and styrene divinylbenzene copolymer immobilized in porous silica particles.

Natural nuclear fission reactors: time constraints for occurrence, and their relation to uranium and manganese deposits and to the evolution of the atmosphere

Abstract Knowledge of the formation conditions of Francevillian uranium and manganese ore deposits as well as natural fission reactors sheds light on the early evolution of the atmosphere between 1950 and 2150 Ma ago. The model explaining the formation of the Oklo uranium deposits suggests that at the time of sediment deposition in the Franceville basin 2150 million years ago, the oxygen deficient atmosphere would have inhibited uranium dissolution. Dissolution of uranium was only possible during later diagenesis, approximately 1950 Ma. Reduction reactions in the presence of hydrocarbons allowed precipitation of dissolved uranium to U4+, forming deposits with high enough uranium contents to trigger subsequent nuclear fission reactions. Such a model is in agreement with earlier suggestions that oxygen contents in atmosphere increased during a ‘transition phase’ some 2450–2100 Ma ago. The manganese deposits were formed before the uranium deposits, during the deposition of the black shales and very early diagenesis, and thus at a time when oxygen content in atmosphere was very low. Carbon isotopes data of organic matter show decrease of δ13C upward in the Francevillian series (−20 to −46% PDB) reflecting the high CH4 and low O2 contents in the atmosphere during sediment deposition. This favoured anoxic conditions during deposition of the basinal FB black shales and likewise the migration of Mn over long distances. The manganese precipitated first as Mn-oxides at the shallow edges of the Franceville basin, in photic zones, where photosynthetic organisms flourished. Mn-oxides were then reduced in the black shales forming Mn-carbonates when conditions became more reducing during transgression episodes and/or the first stages of burial. In the black shales, reducing conditions prevailed until recent weathering, allowing the good preservation of organic matter and the Mn deposits. The present-day alteration is responsible for the dissolution of Mn-carbonates and precipitation of Mn-oxides at the water table to form the high grade Mn ore (45–50% Mn). Development of photosynthesizing organisms, a volcanic source of the Mn, and favourable palaeogeography of the Francevillian basins are all important parameters for the formation of the Mn deposits. For the occurrence of the natural nuclear reactors, the age of 2.0 Ga is the main parameter that controls the abundance of fissile 235U and the critical mass. Before 2.0 Ga the 235U/238U ratio was sufficiently high for fission reactions to occur but conditions favourable for forming high grade uranium ores were not achieved. Then, after 2.0 Ga the increase of oxygen in the atmosphere commonly led to the formation of high grade uranium ores in which the 235U/238U ratio was too low to support criticality.

Interaction of uranium with Pleurotus sp.

Uptake of uranium by higher fungi, such as mushroom is little elucidated. We have studied the interaction of uranium with Pleurotus sp. (a mushroom) in pure culture over a wide range of U concentration (50-3000 mg/L). The Pleurotus sp. was cultured in two different media. One was rice bran medium, and the other was agar (yeast extract, peptone and dextrose) medium. The uptake of uranium in Pleurotus sp. was examined by alpha ray autoradiography (AA), X-ray fluorescence spectroscopy (XRF) and scanning microcopy (SEM) equipped with EDS.In the agar medium, the higher uranium concentration gave lower growth of mycelia, and no fruiting body was observed. In the rice bran medium, the fruiting body was grown at U concentrations up to 1000 mg/L. The AA and XRF analysis showed that uranium taken up in the fruiting body was below, the detection limit. The SEM-EDS analysis indicated that U was distributed in the limited region and was not transported to the mycelia far from U containing medium. It is concluded that uranium affects the growth of Pleurotus sp., and little uranium is taken up by Pleurotus sp. during the growth of both mycelia and fruiting body.