URANIUM SPECIATION IN WATERS OF DIFFERENT URANIUM MINING AREAS

The uranium speciation in three uranium mining-related waters from Sax ony/Germany was experimentally determined by laser spectroscopy. The o btained species distributions were successfully compared with modeling predictions for the different U(VI) species that were calculated with the modeling software EQ3/6 using the NEA data base [1,2]. Three diff erent solution complexes characterize the uranium speciation in the in vestigated waters: 1. In carbonate- and calcium-containing mine water from Schlema at pH 7.1, Ca2UO2(CO3)(3) (aq.); 2. In carbonate-containi ng and calcium-poor tailing water from Helmsdorf at pH 9.8, UO2(CO3)(3 )(4-) 3. In sulfate-rich mine water from Konigstein at pH 2.6, UO2SO4 (aq.). (C) 1998 Elsevier Science S.A.