Cigar lake project: a U-deposit natural analog

In the Canadian Nuclear Fuel Waste management Program (CNFWP), AECL is responsible for coordinating and managing the research and development program for the immobilization and disposal of fuel wastes. The Cigar Lake deposit is particularly valuable to conduct a comprehensive analog study because of the present status of development of the deposit. In addition to exploration data, extensive mineralogical and geochemical information already exist and is being collected by the exploration and mining companies. Environmental impact studies have included investigations of the hydrology and ground water chemistry, as well as many aspects and processes at surface and in the glacial overburden. The apparent lack of mobility of uranium for over a billion years is presumed to be due to the reducing nature of groundwaters. The redox couples that control the Eh are being investigated further along with the role of bacteriological activity and colloids