Isotopic profiling of natural uranium mined from northern Nigeria for nuclear forensic application
Four mined samples of natural uranium from northern Nigeria were studied through inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry, at the Environmental Analytical Chemistry Laboratory, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg. The samples were characterised for lead, thorium and uranium isotopic c...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Academy of Science of South Africa
2022-03-01
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| Series: | South African Journal of Science |
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| Online Access: | https://sajs.co.za/article/view/10678 |
| _version_ | 1818759141181620224 |
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| author | Samuel O.O. John Iyabo T. Usman |
| author_facet | Samuel O.O. John Iyabo T. Usman |
| author_sort | Samuel O.O. John |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description |
Four mined samples of natural uranium from northern Nigeria were studied through inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry, at the Environmental Analytical Chemistry Laboratory, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg. The samples were characterised for lead, thorium and uranium isotopic concentrations, isotopic ratios and age. The objective was to obtain nuclear forensic fingerprints as baseline data to add to the Nigerian National Nuclear Forensic Library. Results showed significant variation in the isotopic concentrations of lead, thorium and uranium across the mines. Isotopic ratios of 238U/235U, 235U/238U and 234U/238U across the sample of 137.881±0.007, 7.253×10-03±2.05×10-04 and 5.540×10-05±4.08×10-07 were found to be consistent with the natural values. The age of natural uranium is comparable to the age of earth. Uranium, lead, and thorium isotopic concentrations and ratios, as well as the age of the samples characterised, provide an isotopic profile that can be used for nuclear forensic application.
Significance:
• Given the abundant deposits of natural uranium in Africa and the consequent potential for nuclear insecurity, determining the isotopic profiles and signatures of natural uranium is important for application in nuclear forensics.
• Isotopic concentrations of 232Th, 238U, 235U and 234U from the respective sampling sites differed significantly, thereby providing characteristic isotopic profiles.
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| first_indexed | 2024-12-18T06:38:00Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-a4a22595a6f945c299b48689a1228710 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1996-7489 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-18T06:38:00Z |
| publishDate | 2022-03-01 |
| publisher | Academy of Science of South Africa |
| record_format | Article |
| series | South African Journal of Science |
| spelling | doaj.art-a4a22595a6f945c299b48689a12287102022-12-21T21:17:43ZengAcademy of Science of South AfricaSouth African Journal of Science1996-74892022-03-011183/410.17159/sajs.2022/10678Isotopic profiling of natural uranium mined from northern Nigeria for nuclear forensic applicationSamuel O.O. John0Iyabo T. Usman1Department of Physics, Nasarawa State University, Keffi, NigeriaNuclear Structure Research Group, School of Physics, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa Four mined samples of natural uranium from northern Nigeria were studied through inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry, at the Environmental Analytical Chemistry Laboratory, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg. The samples were characterised for lead, thorium and uranium isotopic concentrations, isotopic ratios and age. The objective was to obtain nuclear forensic fingerprints as baseline data to add to the Nigerian National Nuclear Forensic Library. Results showed significant variation in the isotopic concentrations of lead, thorium and uranium across the mines. Isotopic ratios of 238U/235U, 235U/238U and 234U/238U across the sample of 137.881±0.007, 7.253×10-03±2.05×10-04 and 5.540×10-05±4.08×10-07 were found to be consistent with the natural values. The age of natural uranium is comparable to the age of earth. Uranium, lead, and thorium isotopic concentrations and ratios, as well as the age of the samples characterised, provide an isotopic profile that can be used for nuclear forensic application. Significance: • Given the abundant deposits of natural uranium in Africa and the consequent potential for nuclear insecurity, determining the isotopic profiles and signatures of natural uranium is important for application in nuclear forensics. • Isotopic concentrations of 232Th, 238U, 235U and 234U from the respective sampling sites differed significantly, thereby providing characteristic isotopic profiles. https://sajs.co.za/article/view/10678isotopic profilenatural uraniumU-Th-Pb concentrationnuclear forensicsuranium isotope ratio |
| spellingShingle | Samuel O.O. John Iyabo T. Usman Isotopic profiling of natural uranium mined from northern Nigeria for nuclear forensic application South African Journal of Science isotopic profile natural uranium U-Th-Pb concentration nuclear forensics uranium isotope ratio |
| title | Isotopic profiling of natural uranium mined from northern Nigeria for nuclear forensic application |
| title_full | Isotopic profiling of natural uranium mined from northern Nigeria for nuclear forensic application |
| title_fullStr | Isotopic profiling of natural uranium mined from northern Nigeria for nuclear forensic application |
| title_full_unstemmed | Isotopic profiling of natural uranium mined from northern Nigeria for nuclear forensic application |
| title_short | Isotopic profiling of natural uranium mined from northern Nigeria for nuclear forensic application |
| title_sort | isotopic profiling of natural uranium mined from northern nigeria for nuclear forensic application |
| topic | isotopic profile natural uranium U-Th-Pb concentration nuclear forensics uranium isotope ratio |
| url | https://sajs.co.za/article/view/10678 |
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