Carbon-13/Carbon-12 Isotope Fractionation of Organic Matter Associated with Uranium Ores Induced by Alpha Irradiation

27 October 1978

journal article
other
Published by American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS) in Science

Vol. 202 (4366) , 430-432
https://doi.org/10.1126/science.202.4366.430

Abstract

Analyses of stable carbon isotopes from two sample suites from sandstone uranium (tabular) ores show interesting variations. Organic carbon associated with high-grade uranium ore is heavy (δ ¹³ C = –16.9 to –19.6 per mil, where δ ¹³ C = ¹³ C/ ¹² C relative to the Pee Dee belemnite standard) relative to the adjacent lower-grade samples (–22.7 to –26.4 per mil). It is suggested that the heavy isotopic values for the are samples are related to a radiation and chemical isotope effect that has occurred mainly because of an alpha-radiation dose of 10 ¹¹ rads.

Keywords

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