Uranium-bearing minerals characterization with laboratory reflectance spectroscopy: study of Córcoles fossil site, Guadalajara

Authors

  • Juncal A. Cruz Facultad de Ciencias Geológicas, Universidad Complutense de Madrid y Grupo de Investigación Geología Ambiental, Cuaternario y Geodiversidad, Universidad de León.
  • Ismael Coronado Grupo de Investigación Geología Ambiental, Cuaternario y Geodiversidad, Universidad de León.
  • Montserrat Ferrer-Juliá Grupo de Investigación Geología Ambiental, Cuaternario y Geodiversidad, Universidad de León.
  • Lourdes Fernández-Díaz Dpto. Mineralogía y Petrología, Facultad de Ciencias Geológicas, Universidad Complutense de Madrid.
  • Eduardo García-Meléndez Grupo de Investigación Geología Ambiental, Cuaternario y Geodiversidad, Universidad de León.
  • Elena Colmenero-Hidalgo Grupo de Investigación Geología Ambiental, Cuaternario y Geodiversidad, Universidad de León.
  • Esperanza Fernández-Martínez Grupo de Investigación Geología Ambiental, Cuaternario y Geodiversidad, Universidad de León.

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.55407/geogaceta98436

Keywords:

diffuse reflectance, fossil bones, Ca-phosphate, uranyl micas

Abstract

Uranyl ion is commonly associated with arsenates, phosphates and vanadates; one of the most frequent secondary origins of uranium is associated with biogenic calcium phosphates (bones and teeth) in nature. In this study different uranium minerals have been characterized with laboratory VNIR-SWIR reflectance spectroscopy (400-2500 nm). The samples studied included the secondary uranium minerals: metatorbernite, metautunite and metauranocyrcite. Calcium phosphates (biogenic and inorganic) and fossil remains coexisting with metatyuyamunite mineralization found in the Lower Miocene fossil vertebrate deposit of Córcoles (Tajo Basin, Guadalajara, Spain) have also been studied. This deposit represents a remarkable example of the formation of secondary uranium minerals of the phosphate type. Its origin is the result of the interaction of fossils with groundwater or other uranyl (UO22+) bearing mineralizing fluids during diagenesis. The uranyl-bearing minerals show absorption features at 1100, 1330 and 1672 nm attributed to uranyl anions. The characterization of uranium-bearing minerals provides valuable information with great potential for application in remote sensing, given the scarcity of pre-existing information. The obtained data can be useful in the exploration, characterization and/or protection of uranium deposits.

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Published

2022-12-11

How to Cite

Cruz, J. A., Coronado, I., Ferrer-Juliá, M., Fernández-Díaz, L., García-Meléndez, E., Colmenero-Hidalgo, E., & Fernández-Martínez, E. (2022). Uranium-bearing minerals characterization with laboratory reflectance spectroscopy: study of Córcoles fossil site, Guadalajara. GEOGACETA, 72, 55–58. https://doi.org/10.55407/geogaceta98436

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Vol. 72 (2022): July_December

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