<p>Please read this article.  It explains the heavy metal separation from the wet process.</p>

<p><a href="http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.jrras.2014.01.001" rel="nofollow">http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.jrras.2014.01.001</a></p>

<p>I believe the decay rate of thorium to radium in the uranium decay series is 77k years.  Therefore, however much radium/thorium/uranium you measure in a sample, it won't really change during your lifetime.</p>

<p>According to the United Nations Scientific Committee on the Effects of Atomic Radiation the normal concentration of uranium in soil is 300 μg/kg to 11.7 mg/kg.  It is found in most soils and rock naturally at highly varying concentrations.  </p>

<p>Phosphate rock does not become enriched with uranium/thorium/radium until the extraction process separates and concentrates these metals.  When the phosphate rock is treated with sulfuric acid, the uranium and thorium become concentrated in the aqueous phase while radium concentrates into the gypsum.  A lot of other heavy metals also get incorporated into the phosphoric acid phase since most are soluble in dilute acid solutions.  I suppose these contaminants could be marketed as micronutrients in the phosphate fertilizer products.</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2016-05-23T21:41:27.350Z
It would be good if you could explain the important points of the article in your answer. Links are subject to change or disappear.
bon
CC BY-SA 3.0
2016-05-23T21:41:55.093Z
_"Phosphate rock does not become enriched with uranium/thorium/radium until the extraction process separates and concentrates these metals"_ This sentence doesn't make sense. Naturally occurring phosphate **rocks** can definitely be U and Th rich. This has nothing to do with what extraction process it undergoes later on.
Gimelist
CC BY-SA 3.0
2016-05-23T21:43:25.743Z
@bon changed the link to the doi - now it will not disappear. The answer still has other problems though.
Gimelist
CC BY-SA 3.0
2016-05-25T06:48:20.453Z
The thorium decay series is completely separate from the uranium decay series and produces a different isotope of radium Ra-224 from that of U-238, which produces Ra-226. But you are correct that Th-232 and U-238 both have very long half lives. Michael is correct that phosphate rock is enriched in uranium - in agreement with the article you cite. However, if you read the article, the activity concentration of Ra is reduced in the gypsum waste. The reduction factor is only about 1/10th that for uranium, however.
haresfur
CC BY-SA 3.0
2016-05-23T17:59:42.837Z
2016-05-23T21:43:05.537Z
2016-05-23T21:43:05.537Z
user6023
<p>To understand why sedimentary phosphate rocks (hereafter referred to as <strong>phosphorites</strong>) have elevated uranium contents we first need to understand what are they made of and why do they form in the first place.</p>
<p>Phosphorites are rocks that are made of apatite, a mineral with the formula <span class="math-container">$\ce{Ca5(PO4)3(F,Cl,OH)}$</span>. This mineral (especially the OH variant) is one of the main constituents of skeletons of living organisms. The hard mineralised part of your teeth and bones are made of apatite, for instance.</p>
<p>Skeletons of dead marine animals (e.g. fish) are deposited on the ocean floor as apatite. The source of apatite need not be biogenic: it can also be sourced from igneous or hydrothermal activity occurring on the ocean floor, or derived as clastic material from the continents. The end result, is the deposition of apatite as phosphorites.</p>
<p>An important property of apatite is that it can accommodate some uranium. The mechanism is not yet completely understood, but it's most likely the incorporation of <span class="math-container">$\ce{U^4+}$</span> in the mineral structure of apatite, replacing calcium. Now here's the interesting part - uranium in sea water is mostly present as <span class="math-container">$\ce{U^6+}$</span> (in the form of the uranyl ion). The uranyl ion is more soluble than <span class="math-container">$\ce{U^4+}$</span>, so uranium mostly remains as utanyl ion in solution in the sea water. But, as we mentioned earlier, apatite deposits form by the decay of dead marine animals. This accumulation of decaying organic material reduces the <span class="math-container">$\ce{U^6+}$</span> to <span class="math-container">$\ce{U^4+}$</span>, facilitating its incorporation into the apatite structure.</p>
<p>That's only one side of the coin. Apparently <span class="math-container">$\ce{U^6+}$</span> can also be adsorbed on apatite grains. This is even used in some cases to stop uranium contamination from migrating through soil - by adding apatite to it in order to immobilise it.</p>
<p>Whatever the exact process (or combination of processes) that make uranium such a good friend of apatite, the end result is that apatite (and rocks containing it) is enriched in uranium relative to its environment.</p>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2023-02-10T21:47:12.123Z
Uranium can also substitute for calcium in perovskite-silicates in the deep mantle, at least if the silicate structure is doped with aluminum to assist the charge balance. See [here](https://earthscience.stackexchange.com/a/24777/20607).
Oscar Lanzi
CC BY-SA 3.0
2015-04-02T14:23:46.753Z
Thank you for this great answer. I understood everything except for the part of _the uranyl ion is less soluble than U4+ so it mostly remains in solution in the sea water_ . I thought that in order to make it easier for the uranium to incorporate into the apatite, it should evolve to a less soluble species. If organic material makes it evolve to U4+ and U4+ enters more easily the structure of apatite, it should be less soluble that U6+. Correct me if I am wrong!
antortjim
CC BY-SA 3.0
2015-04-02T17:17:05.790Z
"The source of apatite must not be biogenic" Do you mean "... is not necessarily biogenic"? "Must not be" means that it's forbidden, whereas I suspect you mean "It's not the case that it must be", i.e., that it's not mandatory.
David Richerby
CC BY-SA 3.0
2015-04-03T04:08:47.047Z
@antortjim and David, yes. Forgive me for not proof-reading it :) Should be ok now.
Gimelist
CC BY-SA 3.0
2015-04-29T16:12:29.427Z
Could you please add a reference? Thank you!
antortjim
CC BY-SA 3.0
2015-05-27T19:58:16.757Z
I had no idea about the above explanation. My thought was that since phosphoric salts tend to be less soluble than any other mixed salt with the same anion (consult any solubility table and see) then a mixed phosphoric salt grain would be less likely to form a crack due to dissolution of a part of it, so it should *physically* trap radioactive elements inside. Perhaps the key factor, perhaps simply a contributing factor, but 10 years ago I thought it was the main factor.
marathon16
CC BY-SA 4.0
2015-04-02T12:35:33.723Z
2023-02-10T21:49:33.293Z
2023-02-10T21:49:33.293Z
Gimelist
<p>I have been doing some research on the issue of phosphogypsum pollution.  Phosphogypsum is a waste by-product formed with the &quot;wet process&quot; method of extraction of phosphoric acid out of phosphate rock, which uses sulfuric acid and water to break it:</p>
<p><span class="math-container">$$\ce{Ca10(PO4)6F2 + 10H2SO4 + 20H2O -&gt; 10CaSO4.2H2O + 6H3PO4 + 2HF}$$</span></p>
<p>Returning the phosphoric acid and gypsum (calcium sulphate, or CaSO4). The problem here is that the <strong>uranium in the phosphate rock produces 226Ra (among other radionuclides) during its decay,</strong> and since 226Ra is an &quot;Alkalin Earth Metal&quot; (it's on the 2nd column of the periodic table), it can form radium sulphate and mimic calcium, leading to radioactive gypsum.</p>
<p>The point here is, <em><strong>why is the phosphate rock enrichened in uranium</strong></em> that can produce radium? Is there a trend for phosphate and uranium to accumulate together, and if so, what is the geochemical reason??</p>
<p>I have already found out that:</p>
<blockquote>
<p>Sedimentary rock phosphates contain much higher concentrations of
potentially hazardous elements (As, Cd, Cr,Pb, Se and U)than
igneous rock phosphates. <a href="http://d-nb.info/996740074/34" rel="noreferrer">(1)</a></p>
<p>Phosphate rock varies considerably in content of U, Ra, and Th, depending
on the geographical area from which it was mined. <a href="http://www.scopenvironment.org/downloadpubs/scope54/6mortvedt.htm" rel="noreferrer">(2)</a></p>
</blockquote>
<p>1 - Mamdoh Sattouf, Identifying the Origin of Rock Phosphates and Phosphorous Fertilisers Using Isotope Ratio Techniques and Heavy Metal  Patterns.</p>
<p>2 - John J. Mortvedt and James D. Beaton, Heavy Metal And Radionuclide Contaminants In Phosphate Fertilizers.</p>
<p>Thank you in advance for your help!!</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2015-04-02T12:23:01.507Z
@antortjim: You've made me aware of something I didn't know.
Fred
<geology><geochemistry><radioactivity><uranium>
Why does phosphate rock contain uranium?
antortjim
# Why does phosphate rock contain uranium?

(Asked by: username_0 on 2015-04-02)

I have been doing some research on the issue of phosphogypsum pollution. Phosphogypsum is a waste by-product formed with the "wet process" method of extraction of phosphoric acid out of phosphate rock, which uses sulfuric acid and water to break it:

$$\ce{Ca10(PO4)6F2 + 10H2SO4 + 20H2O -> 10CaSO4.2H2O + 6H3PO4 + 2HF}$$

Returning the phosphoric acid and gypsum (calcium sulphate, or CaSO4). The problem here is that the **uranium in the phosphate rock produces 226Ra (among other radionuclides) during its decay,** and since 226Ra is an "Alkalin Earth Metal" (it's on the 2nd column of the periodic table), it can form radium sulphate and mimic calcium, leading to radioactive gypsum.

The point here is, ***why is the phosphate rock enrichened in uranium*** that can produce radium? Is there a trend for phosphate and uranium to accumulate together, and if so, what is the geochemical reason??

I have already found out that:

> Sedimentary rock phosphates contain much higher concentrations of
> potentially hazardous elements (As, Cd, Cr,Pb, Se and U)than
> igneous rock phosphates. [(1)](http://d-nb.info/996740074/34)
>
> Phosphate rock varies considerably in content of U, Ra, and Th, depending
> on the geographical area from which it was mined. [(2)](http://www.scopenvironment.org/downloadpubs/scope54/6mortvedt.htm)

1 - Mamdoh Sattouf, Identifying the Origin of Rock Phosphates and Phosphorous Fertilisers Using Isotope Ratio Techniques and Heavy Metal Patterns.

2 - John J. Mortvedt and James D. Beaton, Heavy Metal And Radionuclide Contaminants In Phosphate Fertilizers.

Thank you in advance for your help!!

**Tags:** geology, geochemistry, radioactivity, uranium

> **Comments:**
> **username_1**: @username_0: You've made me aware of something I didn't know.  

---

## 2 answers

### Answer by username_4 on 2015-04-02. Score: 20 | Accepted answer

To understand why sedimentary phosphate rocks (hereafter referred to as **phosphorites**) have elevated uranium contents we first need to understand what are they made of and why do they form in the first place.

Phosphorites are rocks that are made of apatite, a mineral with the formula $\ce{Ca5(PO4)3(F,Cl,OH)}$. This mineral (especially the OH variant) is one of the main constituents of skeletons of living organisms. The hard mineralised part of your teeth and bones are made of apatite, for instance.

Skeletons of dead marine animals (e.g. fish) are deposited on the ocean floor as apatite. The source of apatite need not be biogenic: it can also be sourced from igneous or hydrothermal activity occurring on the ocean floor, or derived as clastic material from the continents. The end result, is the deposition of apatite as phosphorites.

An important property of apatite is that it can accommodate some uranium. The mechanism is not yet completely understood, but it's most likely the incorporation of $\ce{U^4+}$ in the mineral structure of apatite, replacing calcium. Now here's the interesting part - uranium in sea water is mostly present as $\ce{U^6+}$ (in the form of the uranyl ion). The uranyl ion is more soluble than $\ce{U^4+}$, so uranium mostly remains as utanyl ion in solution in the sea water. But, as we mentioned earlier, apatite deposits form by the decay of dead marine animals. This accumulation of decaying organic material reduces the $\ce{U^6+}$ to $\ce{U^4+}$, facilitating its incorporation into the apatite structure.

That's only one side of the coin. Apparently $\ce{U^6+}$ can also be adsorbed on apatite grains. This is even used in some cases to stop uranium contamination from migrating through soil - by adding apatite to it in order to immobilise it.

Whatever the exact process (or combination of processes) that make uranium such a good friend of apatite, the end result is that apatite (and rocks containing it) is enriched in uranium relative to its environment.

> **Comments:**
> **username_0**: Thank you for this great answer. I understood everything except for the part of _the uranyl ion is less soluble than U4+ so it mostly remains in solution in the sea water_ . I thought that in order to make it easier for the uranium to incorporate into the apatite, it should evolve to a less soluble species. If organic material makes it evolve to U4+ and U4+ enters more easily the structure of apatite, it should be less soluble that U6+. Correct me if I am wrong!  
> **username_7**: "The source of apatite must not be biogenic" Do you mean "... is not necessarily biogenic"? "Must not be" means that it's forbidden, whereas I suspect you mean "It's not the case that it must be", i.e., that it's not mandatory.  
> **username_4**: @username_0 and username_7, yes. Forgive me for not proof-reading it :) Should be ok now.  
> **username_0**: Could you please add a reference? Thank you!  
> **username_8**: I had no idea about the above explanation. My thought was that since phosphoric salts tend to be less soluble than any other mixed salt with the same anion (consult any solubility table and see) then a mixed phosphoric salt grain would be less likely to form a crack due to dissolution of a part of it, so it should *physically* trap radioactive elements inside. Perhaps the key factor, perhaps simply a contributing factor, but 10 years ago I thought it was the main factor.  
> **username_6**: Uranium can also substitute for calcium in perovskite-silicates in the deep mantle, at least if the silicate structure is doped with aluminum to assist the charge balance. See [here](https://earthscience.stackexchange.com/a/24777/20607).  

---

### Answer by username_2 on 2016-05-23. Score: -1

Please read this article. It explains the heavy metal separation from the wet process.

<http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.jrras.2014.01.001>

I believe the decay rate of thorium to radium in the uranium decay series is 77k years. Therefore, however much radium/thorium/uranium you measure in a sample, it won't really change during your lifetime.

According to the United Nations Scientific Committee on the Effects of Atomic Radiation the normal concentration of uranium in soil is 300 μg/kg to 11.7 mg/kg. It is found in most soils and rock naturally at highly varying concentrations.

Phosphate rock does not become enriched with uranium/thorium/radium until the extraction process separates and concentrates these metals. When the phosphate rock is treated with sulfuric acid, the uranium and thorium become concentrated in the aqueous phase while radium concentrates into the gypsum. A lot of other heavy metals also get incorporated into the phosphoric acid phase since most are soluble in dilute acid solutions. I suppose these contaminants could be marketed as micronutrients in the phosphate fertilizer products.

> **Comments:**
> **username_3**: It would be good if you could explain the important points of the article in your answer. Links are subject to change or disappear.  
> **username_4**: _"Phosphate rock does not become enriched with uranium/thorium/radium until the extraction process separates and concentrates these metals"_ This sentence doesn't make sense. Naturally occurring phosphate **rocks** can definitely be U and Th rich. This has nothing to do with what extraction process it undergoes later on.  
> **username_4**: @username_3 changed the link to the doi - now it will not disappear. The answer still has other problems though.  
> **username_5**: The thorium decay series is completely separate from the uranium decay series and produces a different isotope of radium Ra-224 from that of U-238, which produces Ra-226. But you are correct that Th-232 and U-238 both have very long half lives. Michael is correct that phosphate rock is enriched in uranium - in agreement with the article you cite. However, if you read the article, the activity concentration of Ra is reduced in the gypsum waste. The reduction factor is only about 1/10th that for uranium, however.  

---

