Earth Science Frontiers ›› 2024, Vol. 31 ›› Issue (2): 447-471.DOI: 10.13745/j.esf.sf.2022.10.44

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Uranium isotope fractionation and application of uranium isotopes in environmental geosciences—a review

LI Xi(), ZHU Guangyou*(), LI Tingting, CHEN Zhiyong, AI Yifei, ZHANG Yan, TIAN Lianjie   

  1. PetroChina Research Institute of Petroleum Exploration and Development, Beijing 100083, China
  • Received:2022-07-30 Revised:2022-11-05 Online:2024-03-25 Published:2024-04-18

Abstract:

In recent years, uranium (U) isotopes as geochemical indicators play an increasingly important role in environmental studies. To accelerate the development and application of U isotopes in China, this paper performs a systematic review on U geochemistry, U isotope analysis and testing techniques, U cycling and isotopic composition of surface U, mechanism of U isotope fractionation, and research progress on and technical barriers to the application of U isotopes in environmental geosciences in the past two decades. Uranium as a redox-sensitive element, significant U isotope fractionation has been observed in natural and anthropogenic environments. Uranium isotopes have been successfully applied to trace U distribution, transport, and diffusion behavior in modern terrestrial epigenetic systems and to reconstruct the history of synergistic coevolution between the environment and living organisms over geological and historical periods. However, in general, U isotope research both at home and abroad is still in its infancy, mostly limited to qualitative analysis, and some application issues need to be solved. For example, U isotopes with certain valency are still not measurable, hindering a further understanding of the mechanism of U isotope fractionation during redox processes; other lackings include the means to deal with U contamination in groundwater; systematic, regional U isotope test data on epigenetic sediments; and analytical models for quantitative atmospheric source calculations. Among other issues, the mechanism of U isotope fractionation during carbonate rock formation is still unclear and the fractionation correction factor is difficult to determine. In paleoreconstruction, the use of U isotopes of black shale is problematic as accurate isotope data are difficult to obtain due to local signal interference, and the lack of isotope data on non-major geological events makes it impossible to recover the complete redox history of the Earth. Research on the geochemical mechanism of U isotope fractionation at high temperature and related application is scarce. Future directions on U isotope research and application include: improve testing techniques; increase precision in instrumental detection/analysis; conduct more systematic testing; establish comprehensive databases; deepen mechanistic understanding of isotopic fractionation; improve application quality; expand application to more fields; use multi-element tracers to improve tracer accuracy. This paper provides an essential reference for the application of U isotopes in environmental Earth sciences in China.

Key words: U isotope, U cycling, fractionation mechanism, environmental science, Earth sciences, U tracing

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