DETERMINATION OF URANIUM IN ORES AND IN SOLUTION USING A PORTABLE NON-DISPERSIVE X-RAY SPECTROGRAPH

The portable non-dispersive X-ray fluorescence instrument developed was tested for its application to the determination of uranium in solution, in simulated ores, and in naturally occurring ores. This portable X-ray fluorescence instrument is composed of a small radioisotope source for excitation (cobalt-57), a compact proportional counter for detection, a miniaturized electronic package, a recorder for data presentation, and is easily contained in a one-cubic-foot volume. Using this portable instrument, uranium in solution was determined with a relative error of ±2.4%, and in simulated ores with a relative error of ±4.0%. The natural gamma radiation of uranium provides another analytical technique whereby with this instrument uranium in ores was determined with a relative error of ±2.0%. © 1969.