Uranium disequilibrium in groundwater downgradient of the Bayan Obo rare earth tailings, Northwest China

Abstract

Understanding uranium isotopic disequilibrium in groundwater is critical for tracing solute transport and assessing long-term contamination risks in mining-impacted regions worldwide. This study combines hydrogeochemical and U-series isotope analyses (²³⁴U/²³⁸U, ²³⁰Th/²³²Th, ²²⁶Ra) along a typical flow transect downgradient of the Bayan Obo rare earth tailings pond to elucidate uranium mobility and mixing processes. Dissolved uranium shows consistent ²³⁴U enrichment, with a strong linear covariance between uranium concentration and activity ratio (R² = 0.87, p = 0.002), indicating conservative binary mixing between tailings-impacted and regional groundwater. Spatial declines in ²³⁴U/²³⁸U and ²³⁴U-excess reveal isotopic homogenization and dilution along the flow path, whereas Th and Ra isotope behaviors might be primarily controlled by surface retention (e.g., Fe/Mn(hydro)oxides) and salinization, respectively. Mass-balance analysis suggests that groundwater contributes approximately 8% of the river flow, carrying a small but traceable uranium flux. These results demonstrate the diagnostic value of U-series disequilibria for quantifying water-rock interactions and groundwater flow dynamics in mining-impacted environments.