2015 | OriginalPaper | Chapter
Distribution of Uranium and Thorium Isotopes in Colloidal and Dissolved Fraction of Water from San Marcos Dam, Chihuahua, Mexico
Authors : Z. K. Ortiz-Caballero, A. Covarrubias-Muñoz, M. E. Montero-Cabrera, M. Rentería-Villalobos
Published in: Uranium - Past and Future Challenges
Publisher: Springer International Publishing
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In the NW of Chihuahua City, Mexico, San Marcos range formation is located. San Marcos area includes two uranium mineral outcrops, a river and its dam, which are the main water supply for the nearest agricultural lands. Assessing fractionation and distribution of U and Th isotopes contained in colloidal and dis-solved fractions of surface water is the aim of this work. U and Th isotopes’ activities were obtained by alpha spectrometry. 238U and 232Th contents in colloids ranged from 5 to 16, and from 0.3 to 0.5 mBq·g
−1
, respectively, with activity ratio (AR, 238U/234U) of up 6. The U distribution coefficient (kdU) ranged from 1·10
3
to 7·10
3
L·g
−1
. The results have shown a possible lixiviation of uranium from geo-logical substrate into the surface water and an important fractionation of uranium and thorium.