Portal de Periódicos da CAPES

Geochemical distribution of uranium in soils and vegetation of the “Fe 3” Mine, Saelices, Salamanca, Spain

1979; Elsevier BV; Volume: 11; Linguagem: Inglês

10.1016/0079-1946(79)90068-5

1879-3568

Antonio Arribas, J. Herrero-Payo,

Geochemistry and Geologic Mapping

A detailed geochemical study to find out the relationship between, on the one hand, the surface radiometric anomalies and the uranium content in the soils and vegetation and, on the other hand, the real distribution of the element as shown in mining studies and in numerous drill-cores—mesh 50 × 25 m—and wagon-drill probes—mesh 10 × 10 m—has been made in the "Fe 3" area, situated about 10 km to the north of Ciudad Rodrigo, in the district of Saelices el Chico, in the province of Salamanca (Spain). The biogeochemical analyses were carried out on the leaves of the live oak (Quercus ilex L.), since this species is the most abundant and the most regularly distributed in the area. The conclusions reached in the study were as follows: 1.There exists a correspondence between the radiometric anomalies and the uranium content in the soil. 2.In general, there is a statistical correspondence between the anomalies of the vegetation and the corresponding values of the wagon-drill probes between 1 and 10 m depth. 3.All the prospecting methods clearly reveal the existence of four mineralized areas in a N-S direction. The two central areas, which were discovered by surface radiometry, coincide quite closely with positive anomalies in the soil and vegetation. The other two areas, situated on both sides, had not been discovered by surface radiometry, and were revealed by positive anomalies in the soils and vegetation. For this reason, a detailed study of these two areas has been recommended.