Provenance determination for uranium-rich materials is a critical objective of nuclear forensic analysis. Rare earth element (REE) distributions within uranium ores have seen extensive use as forensic indicators, but quantifying and correlating trace element signatures for U ores to known deposits has thus far involved intricate statistical analyses. Average chondrite normalized (CN)-REE signatures for important U deposit types (DT) worldwide have been calculated and employed to evaluate U ore paragenesis using a simple linear regression analysis. Average DT-CN-REE signatures for unconformity-related, vein type, sandstone, intrusive, and metamorphic type U deposits were established. Uranium ores and derivative materials (uranium ore concentrate) of known origins were treated as unknowns, and in all cases the deposit type from which the sample originated could be positively identified using this method. This novel technique provides a means for rapid assessment of the deposit type of U ores based on their REE abundances.<br/>

Deposit type average rare earth element signatures for nuclear forensics

254th National Meeting (2017)

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