Geochemical Modeling of the Speciation of Uranium in an Acid Mine Drainage Environment in the Witwatersrand Basin

Authors: Tutu, H; Cukrowska, EM; McCarthy, TS

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DOI https://doi.org/10.36487/ACG_repo/852_58

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Tutu, H, Cukrowska, EM & McCarthy, TS 2008, 'Geochemical Modeling of the Speciation of Uranium in an Acid Mine Drainage Environment in the Witwatersrand Basin', in AB Fourie, M Tibbett, I Weiersbye & P Dye (eds), Mine Closure 2008: Proceedings of the Third International Seminar on Mine Closure, Australian Centre for Geomechanics, Perth, pp. 631-638, https://doi.org/10.36487/ACG_repo/852_58

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Abstract:
Gold tailings dams from the Witwatersrand Basin usually contain elevated amounts of heavy metals and radionuclides. Uranium, in the form of uraninite (UO2) and brannerite (UTi2O6), is normally associated with gold-bearing ores in the basin. As a result of acid mine drainage (AMD), uranium is released into groundwater and fluvial systems. Its transport, retardation and immobilization depend strongly on the uranium species and prevailing geochemical conditions. This study was aimed at the quantitative assessment of the distribution of uranium and the modeling of its geochemical speciation. Geochemical analyses of tailings, water and sediment in areas of previous mining were performed. The results indicate that there is active leaching of uranium from the tailings, transport of soluble uranium species through water systems, with subsequent deposition of insoluble uranium species in sediments of fluvial systems. Analysis of tailings material indicated that mobilization and transportation of uranium from the tailings resulted in its decoupling from its progeny which remained largely unaffected by the weathering effects. Mobilization occurs as uranium is oxidized to the U(VI) state which dominates aqueous chemistry. The U(VI) is reduced to U(IV) which is immobile and is subsequently deposited in the wetland sediments downstream from the primary acid mine drainage. Geochemical modeling of uranium speciation revealed the two most influential hydrogeochemical facies in uranium mobility, namely a sulphate-dominated AMD system; and lime-neutralized carbonate-dominated system. In both cases the uranium was shown to be soluble throughout a very wide pH regime, thus yielding important information for risk assessment considerations.

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