Rareearth element fractionation in uranium ore and its U ...
ore mineral in many uranium deposits. It has an ideal formula of UO 2, but is typically U4+ 1xyzU 6+ x REE y 3+ M z 2+ O 2+x()z (Janeczek and Ewing, 1992) and crystallizes in the fluorite structure. The latter can host many elements with ionic radii similar to U4+ in eightfold coordination. This applies particularly to Th 4+, the rareearth elements (REEs 3+), and Y (Frimmel et al ...