The book presents the results from the Uranium Mining and Hydrogeology Conference (UMH VI) held in September 2011, in Freiberg, Germany. The following subjects are emphasised: Uranium Mining, Phosphate Mining and Uranium recovery. Cleaning up technologies for water and soil. Analysis and sensor for Uranium and Radon and Modelling.
Uranium is a naturally occurring element found in rock, soil, and water, with concentrations in groundwater often exceeding several hundred µg/l without contributions from mining or the nuclear industry. The WHO recommends a maximum of 15 µg/l for drinking water due to uranium's chemical toxicity, highlighting its significance in environmental research. Natural uranium enrichment in aquifers, along with factors such as mining, milling, nuclear fuel processing, coal and oil emissions, and the use of uranium-containing phosphate fertilizers, can greatly increase uranium levels in soil and water. The first international conference on Uranium Mining and Hydrogeology (UMH I) was held in October 1995 in Freiberg, organized by the Department of Geology at the Technical University Bergakademie Freiberg, supported by the Saxon State Ministry of Geology and Environment. The growing scientific interest led to a second conference (UMH II) in September 1998, followed by a third conference (UMH III) in September 2002, which was held in conjunction with the International Mine Water Association Symposium 2002. The reviewed papers and posters from the 2002 conference were published by Springer under the title Uranium in the aquatic environment, edited by Merkel, Planer-Friedrich, and Wolkersdorfer.
This volume focuses on practical hydrogeochemical analysis with the help of the the PhreeqC modeling software. The main emphasis is on practical exercises and their solution.
This book addresses scientists and engineers involved in the areas of uranium mining and milling sites, clean-up measures, emissions of nuclear power plants and radioactive waste disposal, as well as political decision-makers. The topics covered are: impact on groundwater from radionuclide emission, analytical speciation techniques, chemical toxicity, radioisotope plant uptake, microbiology catalyzing U(6+) to U(4+) reduction, geochemical and reactive transport, case studies on abandoned uranium mines and milling sites, long-term storage of radioactive waste, passive in situ treatment techniques and risk assessment studies.
Subject of the book is Uranium and its migration in aquatic environments. The following subjects are emphasised: Uranium mining, Phosphate mining, mine closure and remediation, Uranium in groundwater and in bedrock, biogeochemistry of Uranium, environmental behavior, and modeling. Particular results from the leading edge of international research are presented.