#cornish mining

Week in Brief (18–22 December)

Credit: shutterstock/A_Dozmorov

Scientists from the University of Sheffield, UK, have discovered that arsenic can control uranium migration in the environment.

Studying the abandoned South Terras Mine, near St Austell, Cornwall, the team found that uranium from the mine had combined with arsenic forming meta-zeunerite in the topsoil.

Dr Claire Corkhill, lead author of the study, commented, ‘The location of the South Terras mine, and the surrounding area, is well known for mining of arsenic-bearing minerals. Natural weathering of arsenic and uranium minerals in the spoil heaps and soils of South Terras, has released both arsenic and uranium, which form the highly insoluble secondary mineral meta-zeunerite. Locking up the uranium in this mineral structure means that it cannot migrate in the environment.’

This could have implications for the management of disused uranium mines, as well as the sites of historical nuclear testing and nuclear accidents.

To find out more visit, bit.ly/2BdRclH

To read Multi-scale investigation of uranium attenuation by arsenic at an abandoned uranium mine, South Terras, visit go.nature.com/2BGRKjw

In other news:

– UK environment Secretary Michael Gove has outlined a plan for tackling plastic waste 

– Columbia engineers have developed a floating solar fuels rig for seawater electrolysis

– Researchers at The City University of New York have discovered a process by which two-layer graphene becomes a diamond-hard material on impact 

– A new technology of energy generation from bituminous coal 

For AVEN_Kernow I will go back to St.Dennis to see if I can find Josh again whom I interviewed in 2013 as part of ‘Inherit the Wind’