Characterizing the transport properties of iodine in natural illite-rich clay barriers sampled from Cigar Lake uranium deposit

Canada is seeking offers from Offerors to conduct characterizing studies on the samples from the Cigar Lake Uranium Deposit and test the transport properties of iodine under conditions similar to in-situ circumstance to Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission (CNSC). The study aims to achieve the following objectives: • Acquisition of clay samples originating from the clay-rich zones overlying the ore-body of Cigar Lake uranium deposit, Saskatchewan, Canada, either from existing core stocks or through acquisition, as required. • Characterization of key geotechnical and geochemical properties of the clay samples, such as moisture content, saturation degree, dry density, porosity, minerology, redox and chemistry of pore fluid, specific surface area, grain size distribution, iodine leachability and distribution proportion. • Development of experimental program to measure the solute transport properties (e.g. diffusion and partition coefficients) of iodine in the clay samples under conditions similar to in-situ circumstance. • Reporting of experimental findings to the Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission (CNSC). A complete description of the work to be performed is provided in Annex – Statement of Work.