Crystallographic Study of U-Th bearing minerals in Tranomaro, Anosy Region- Madagascar

TL;DR

This study characterizes U-Th bearing minerals in Madagascar's Tranomaro region using X-ray diffraction, revealing their crystalline structures and environmental implications, which is vital for nuclear fuel development and health risk assessment.

Contribution

It provides the first detailed crystallographic analysis of U-Th minerals in Madagascar's Tranomaro region, aiding understanding of their environmental and health impacts.

Findings

U and Th are present in various crystalline structures.

Crystallographic dispersion influences environmental behavior.

Results inform health risk assessments and nuclear resource potential.

Abstract

As an alternative to conventional fossil fuel, there is a renewed interest in the nuclear fuel to support increasing energy demand. New studies are then undertaken to characterize Madagascar U-Th bearing minerals. This is the case for the urano-thorianite bearing pyroxenites in the south East of Madagascar. In this region, several quarries were abandoned, after being mined by the French Atomic Energy Commission (C.E.A) in the fifties and sixties and are now explored by new mining companies. For this purpose, seven U-Th bearing mineral samples from old abandoned uranium quarries in Tranomaro, Amboasary Sud, Madagascar (46{\deg} 28' 0"E, 24{\deg} 36' 0"S), have been collected. To determine the mineral microstructure, they were investigated for qualitative and quantitative identification of crystalline compounds using X-ray powder diffraction analytical method (XRD). Results showed that the U and Th compounds, as minor elements, are present in various crystalline structures. This is important to understand their environmental behaviours, in terms of crystallographic dispersion of U-Th minerals and their impacts on human health.