Alternative method for the production date determination of impure uranium ore concentrate samples

A novel method has been developed for the determination of the production date (age) of uranium ore concentrates (yellow cakes). The methodology is based on the measurement of trace-level 232Th and its daughter nuclide, 228Th and their variation over time. The proposed method offers a complementary dating tool to the commonly used 230Th/234U technique, which is applicable, however, only for highly purified materials. Applying the present method it is possible to determine precisely the production date of uranium samples with incomplete separation of their daughter products, such as yellow cakes, other intermediate products or scrap materials for nuclear forensics and safeguards purposes. (author)