Structural geology report: Spent Fuel Test - Climax Nevada Test Site

Technical Report · Mon Oct 01 00:00:00 EDT 1984

OSTI ID:59334

Wilder, D G; Yow, Jr, J L

We performed underground mapping and core logging in the Climax Stock, a granitic intrusive at the Nevada Test Site, as part of a major field test to determine the feasibility of using granitic or crystalline rock for the underground storage of spent fuel from a nuclear reactor. This mapping and logging identified more than 2500 fractures, over 1500 of which were described in enough detail to allow statistical analyses and orientation studies to be performed. We identified eight joint sets, three major shear sets, and a fault zone within the Spent Fuel Test - Climax (SFT-C) portion of the Stock. Joint sets identified within the SFT-C and elsewhere in the Stock correlated well. The orientations of joint sets identified by other investigators were consistent with our findings, indicating that the joint sets are persistent and have a relatively uniform orientation throughout a major portion of the Stock. The one joint set not seen elsewhere in the Stock is healed and the wall rock is altered, implying that healed joints were not included in the mapping criteria used by other investigators. The shear sets were distinguished from the joint sets by virtue of crushed minerals, continuous clay infilling, and other evidences of shearing, and from faults by the lack of offsetting. Previous investigators working mainly in the Pile Driver Drifts identified two of the shear sets. The third set, being nearly parallel to these Drifts had not been identified previously. The fault zone identified at the far (Receiving Room) end of the project is oriented approximately N45{sup 0}E-75{sup 0}SE, similar to both the Boundary and Shaft Station Faults. We have, therefore, concluded that the Receiving Room Fault is one of a series of normal faults that occur within the Climax Stock and that are possibly related, in both age and genesis, to the Boundary Fault. 52 refs., 26 figs., 11 tabs.

• Research Organization: Lawrence Livermore National Lab. (LLNL), Livermore, CA (United States)
• DOE Contract Number: W-7405-ENG-48
• OSTI ID: 59334
• Report Number(s): UCRL-53381; ON: DE85012542
• Resource Relation: Other Information: PBD: Oct 1984
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

05 NUCLEAR FUELS
58 GEOSCIENCES
NEVADA TEST SITE
GEOLOGY
SPENT FUELS
RADIOACTIVE WASTE DISPOSAL
THERMAL EXPANSION
THERMAL STRESSES
MATHEMATICAL MODELS
GEOLOGIC FAULTS
GRANODIORITES
BOREHOLES
WELL LOGGING
MINERALOGY
GEOLOGIC FISSURES
MAPPING
FEASIBILITY STUDIES
JOINTS
EXPERIMENTAL DATA
Yucca Mountain Project