Analysis of the Mo Speciation in the JEB Tailings Management Facility at McClean Lake, Saskatchewan

• DOI: 10.1021/es404980x
• Publication Date: 2014-03-25T20:38:03Z
• Authors: John R. Hayes; Andrew P. Grosvenor; John Rowson; Kebbi Hughes; Ryan A. Frey; Joel Reid
• Keywords: XANES; Genetic algorithm; Ferrihydrite

The JEB Tailings Management Facility (TMF) is central to reducing the environmental impact of uranium ore processing operation located at McClean Lake facility and operated by AREVA Resources Canada (AREVA). geochemical controls this are largely designed around idea that elements concern, such as Mo, will be controlled in very long term through equilibrium with supporting minerals. However, these systems far from when tailings first placed TMF, it can take years, decades, or centuries reach equilibrium. Therefore, necessary understand how reactions evolve toward an state long-term behavior TMF ensure concern adequately contained. To end, Mo speciation a series samples taken during 2008 sampling campaign has been analyzed. This analysis was performed using powder X-ray diffraction (XRD), fluorescence mapping (μ-XRF), absorption near-edge spectroscopy (XANES). These results show only XANES effective speciating samples, because both element-specific sensitive enough detect low concentrations present. predominant Mo-bearing phases present powellite, ferrimolybdite, molybdate adsorbed on ferrihydrite.