Uranium sources and mobility at an iron ore mine site in Northern Sweden
The project is a geochemical study on the sources and mobility of uranium at LKAB’s mining sites in Northern Sweden.
Uranium is classified as a special pollutant of inland surface and coastal waters in Sweden. Concentration threshold recommendations for uranium in Swedish waters are 0.17 µg/L (annual average) and 8.6 µg/L (maximum allowable).
Uranium concentrations exceeding these values have been detected occasionally in recipient rivers that receive excess process water discharged from LKAB’s mining operations. Therefore, my project will entail identifying uranium-bearing minerals that are weathered and release uranium affecting the recipients and identifying process or geochemical conditions that promote uranium mobility in a so-called environmental forensics study. The project is a Ph.D. study that started in the spring of 2021 and will end in 2025. The long-term aim of the project is to prevent uranium from being mobilized at the source rather than treat the water.
Contact
Lena Alakangas
- Professor and Head of Subject
- 0920-491396
- lena.alakangas@ltu.se
- Lena Alakangas
Vimbainashe Dzimbanhete
- Doctoral Student
- 0920-493510
- vimbainashe.dzimbanhete@ltu.se
- Vimbainashe Dzimbanhete
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