Overview
The application of Raman Spectroscopy to the study of diagenetically related minerals.
Reduction in the amount of greenhouse gases through reduction in gas output or through storage using geosequestration technology necessitates the search for sustainable energy sources. One likely energy source is nuclear fuels. The mining of uranium ores for power generation offers many attractive advantages. There are some issues associated with nuclear fuels including the environmental aspects of disposal of spent nuclear fuels and the ponding of filtered waste water from nuclear fuel production.
The search for techniques to study and rapidly identify nuclear materials progresses. Two such techniques are Raman and infrared spectroscopy. One of the difficulties of studying uranium minerals is that in many cases a complex mixture of stoichiometrically related minerals are formed. This may occur through crystallisation from pond or tailings dams for example. It is not clearly understood if uranyl minerals show significant solubility and can translocate from tailings dams into ground water supply systems.
- Research leader
- Organisational unit
- Lead unit Science and Engineering Faculty
- Research area
- Chemistry
Emeritus Professor Ray FrostDetails
Crystals of secondary uranium minerals.
Thus Raman spectroscopy can be used to identify diagenetically related uranyl minerals.
Raman spectroscopy, because of its spatial resolution advantage, means that single crystals of secondary uranium minerals can be analysed. Thus Raman spectroscopy can be used to identify diagenetically related uranyl minerals.
