Mobilidade Uranífera nos Aquíferos de Águas da Prata (SP)

Abstract

The uranium-238 content of spring waters of Águas da Prata (SP) - Platina, Paiol, Villela, Prata-Radioativa, Prata-Nova, Vitória, Boi and Prata-Antiga - was found. The uranium analysis procedure consisted of the following steps: addition of 232U spike to the samples, coprecipitation with iron, iron extraction with organic solvent, separation on anion-exchange resin, extraction with iron, iron extraction with TTA, deposition on stainless steel disc and determination of uranium content by alpha spectrometry. The results were correlated with the chemical analysis of the principal anionic and cationic species dissolved in these waters. Direct significative correlations between uranium content and sulfate. bicarbonate and chloride were observed, showing that uranium probably forms soluble complexes with anions SO42-, CO32- and Cl-.