ScienceScienceAlertUranium Waste From This Aussie Mine Was Safely Locked Away, But Microbes Had Other Plans
Microbes at a closed South Australian uranium mine may be moving toxic minerals including uranium to the surface, raising new safety concerns about old mine waste.
In 1944, rocks from the Mount Painter mine in the heart of Australia were sent to the US for experiments as part of the Manhattan Project.
A study found microbes at the old Mount Painter uranium mine in South Australia may be moving toxic minerals to the surface of waste piles thought to be safely sealed.
Researchers published in the Journal of Hazardous Materials found polymetallic nanoparticles near the top 10cm of tailings that had supposedly lain undisturbed for over 80 years.
Geoscientist Joel Brugger says the microbes may be converting stable minerals into forms that rainwater and flash flooding could carry into the surrounding Arkaroola ecosystem.
The study found microbes may be converting uranium into forms that can travel through soil and water, so researchers say further studies are needed to assess risk at similar old mine sites.
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