ISSN:
1432-0703
Source:
Springer Online Journal Archives 1860-2000
Topics:
Energy, Environment Protection, Nuclear Power Engineering
,
Medicine
Notes:
Abstract The Gunnar mine operated in northern Saskatchewan, Canada from 1955 to 1964, extracting uranium from approximately 5 × 106 tonnes of ore by the sulphuric acid leach process. Large quantities of the acidic tailings were discharged, covering the entire bottom of Langiey Bay and forming a delta. Measurements ofin situ sediments showed release rates of up to 14.8 pCi210Pb and 155.6 pCi226Ra per m2/hr along with traces of228Th and uranium into the surface water of the bay. It was calculated that, at this rate, it would take 5.5 days for the226Ra concentrations to reach the ambient concentrations of 4.8 pCi/L found in Langley Bay surface water. Comparing this with the reported 14-day hydraulic retention time for the bay, the flux of radionuclides from the sediments can account for the entire concentration measured in the surface water.
Type of Medium:
Electronic Resource
URL:
http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/BF01160304
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