A review of natural uranium and thorium minerals

HMIP has a research programme investigating radionuclide migration with the objective of testing thermodynamic databases and computer codes used for modelling radionuclide migration under environmental conditions. In this context, BGS has produced a review of the occurrence, formation and paragenesis of natural uranium and thorium minerals, and an account of a literature search for thermodynamic data for uranium and thorium species. The aims of this study were to identify the most important minerals relevant to modelling studies carried out in radiological risk assessment using speciation codes and thermodynamic databases, and to provide the basis for the evaluation of any deficiences in existing compiled databases. (Author)