RE: Source for Uranium?

["Nardi, A. Joseph" <nardiaj@westinghouse.com>]

As a point of clarification, is it that the U-234 will dissolve out of the

solid media more readily or that the precursors (Th-234 and Pa-234) to the

U-234 will dissolve out more readily than the uranium and therefore deplete

the U-234 ingrowth?

 

 



 A. Joseph Nardi

Westinghouse Electric Company

P.O. Box 355

Pittsburgh, PA 15230

Phone - 412-374-4652

FAX - 412-374-3357

email - nardiaj@westinghouse.com 



-----Original Message-----

From: A Karam [mailto:paksbi@rit.edu] 

Sent: Tuesday, November 30, 2004 2:27 PM

To: amrso@MCW.EDU; radsafe@list.vanderbilt.edu

Subject: RE: Source for Uranium?





Ralph -

 

First, I am not sure where you can get these sources.  However....

 

Remember that U-234 may or may not be in secular equilibrium, depending on

weathering and exposure to groundwater.  It is not uncommon for U-234 to be

present in higher concentrations in water, and lower concentrations in

minerals or soil.  Alpha damage to the crystal structure increases the

chance that U-234 will dissolve out of a particular crystal, so U-234 enters

water (and leaves crystals) more readily than U-238.

 

Andy

 

P. Andrew Karam, Ph.D., CHP 

Research Assistant Professor 

Rochester Institute of Technology 

Department of Biological Sciences 

85 Lomb Memorial Drive 

Rochester, NY  14623 

+1 585-475-6432 

 <mailto:karam@mail.rit.edu> karam@mail.rit.edu 



A foolish consistency is the hobgoblin of little minds, adored by little

statesmen and philosophers and divines. -Ralph Waldo Emerson, writer and

philosopher (1803-1882)



-----Original Message-----

From: owner-amrso@mcw.edu [mailto:owner-amrso@mcw.edu] On Behalf Of NORTH,

Ralph

Sent: Tuesday, November 30, 2004 2:17 PM

To: radsafe@list.vanderbilt.edu; amrso@mcw.edu

Subject: Source for Uranium?









We are trying to track down highly enriched U-233 and U-236 to make a

"double-spike" for U isotope analyses as part of a project to date cave

deposits (1,000's to 100,000's of years old).  We need on the order of 10 mg

each, and the key is that they need to be very low in U-234, since we will

look at that isotope to establish attainment of secular equilibrium.

Normally Oakridge and New Brunswick have these, but both tell me none is

available at this time.



 



Any leads on sources we might try? Thanks.



 



Ralph North



University of Wisconsin - Madison



Safety Department



 



608-262-1524