Article ID Journal Published Year Pages File Type
4533557 Continental Shelf Research 2009 9 Pages PDF
Abstract

Uranium isotopes were measured in waters and suspended particulate matters (SPM) of the main channel of Yellow River, China that were sampled during four field trips between August 2005 and July 2006. The results show that the concentration of dissolved U (2.04–7.83 μg/l) and the activity ratio of 234U/238U (1.36–1.67) are much higher than the average U concentrations and activity ratios of global major rivers. Mass balance calculations using the results of simulated experiments and measurement data show that the section of the Yellow River between Lanzhou and Sanmenxia has its dissolved U derived from two sources: suspended sediments (68%) and groundwater/runoff from loess deposits (32%). Both sources are related to the heavy erosion of the Chinese Loess Plateau.

Related Topics
Physical Sciences and Engineering Earth and Planetary Sciences Geology
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