Occurrence, Detection and Characterization of Radioactive Minerals

Dear Colleagues,

Naturally occurring radioactive minerals, such as uraninite, coffinite, thorite, monazite, autunite, carnotite, gummite, thorianite, torbernite, uranophane, zeunerite and many other predominantly “secondary” uranium minerals, result from different processes of mineralogical parageneses. The first four minerals mentioned, uraninite, coffinite, thorite and monazite, are characterized by their predominant using as raw materials in nuclear reactors. Thus, this Special Issue aims to show a collection of research papers and critical reviews where the occurrence of these minerals is studied according their occurrence in nature, methods for their identification and analysis, and their detailed crystallography, mineral composition and paragenetic relations, especially in economically significant deposits of uranium and thorium. Additionally, it will be relevant to check the impact of their occurrence and mining on the environment from a radiological point of view.

The successful exploration and mining of uranium and thorium is thus an important part of the geology of these ore deposits, and their successful exploration depends on being able to access and apply fundamental knowledge around mineral systems and the description and evaluation of ore deposits. This Special Issue is focused on three connected topics related to radioactive minerals: (1) the crystallography of selected minerals; (2) their mineral chemistry; and (3) the origin of radioactive minerals. The issue aims to bring together current and recent research on these facets of various uranium and thorium occurrences and ore deposits.

Dr. Miloš René
Guest Editor

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• uranium 
• thorium 
• mineralogy 
• geochemistry 
• uraninite 
• coffinite 
• thorite 
• monazite