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Science 27 October 1978:
Vol. 202. no. 4366, pp. 430 - 432
DOI: 10.1126/science.202.4366.430
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Articles

Carbon-13/Carbon-12 Isotope Fractionation of Organic Matter Associated with Uranium Ores Induced by Alpha Irradiation

JOEL S. LEVENTHAL 1 and CHARLES N. THRELKELD 1

1 U.S. Geological Survey, Denver, Colorado 80225

Analyses of stable carbon isotopes from two sample suites from sandstone uranium (tabular) ores show interesting variations. Organic carbon associated with high-grade uranium ore is heavy (dgr13C = –16.9 to –19.6 per mil, where dgr13C = 13C/12C relative to the Pee Dee belemnite standard) relative to the adjacent lower-grade samples (–22.7 to –26.4 per mil). It is suggested that the heavy isotopic values for the are samples are related to a radiation and chemical isotope effect that has occurred mainly because of an alpha-radiation dose of 1011 rads.

Submitted on July 11, 1978

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Science. ISSN 0036-8075 (print), 1095-9203 (online)