Mineralogy and clinoptilolite K/Ar results from Yucca Mountain, Nevada, USA: A potential high-level radioactive waste repository site
Description/Abstract
The Yucca Mountain Site Characterization Project is investigating Yucca Mountain, Nevada, as a potential site for a high-level nuclear waste repository. An important aspect of this evaluation is to understand the geologic history of the site including the diagenetic processes that are largely responsible for the present-day chemical and physical properties of the altered tuffs. This study evaluates the use of K/Ar geochronology in determining the alteration history of the zeolitized portions of Miocene tuffs at Yucca Mountain. Clinoptilolite is not generally regarded as suitable for dating because of its open structure and large ion-exchange capacity. However, it is the most abundant zeolite at Yucca Mountain and was selected for this study to assess the feasibility of dating the zeolitization process and/or subsequent processes that may have affected the zeolites. In this study we examine the ability of this mineral to retain all or part of its K and radiogenic Ar during diagenesis and evaluate the usefulness of the clinoptilolite K/Ar dates for determining the history of alteration.
| DOI | 10.2172/140598 |
|---|---|
| Creator/Author: | WoldeGabriel, G. ; Broxton, D.E. ; Bish, D.L. ; Chipera, S.J. |
| Publication Date: | 1993 Nov 01 |
| OSTI Identifier: | OSTI ID: 140598; Legacy ID: DE94005018 |
| Report Number(s): | LA--12652-MS |
| DOE Contract Number: | W-7405-ENG-36 |
| DOI: | 10.2172/140598 |
| Other Number(s): | Other: ON: DE94005018 |
| Resource Type: | Technical Report |
| Resource Relation: | Other Information: PBD: Nov 1993 |
| Research Org: | Los Alamos National Lab., NM (United States) |
| Sponsoring Org: | USDOE, Washington, DC (United States) |
| Subject: | 05 NUCLEAR FUELS ;58 GEOSCIENCES; YUCCA MOUNTAIN; GEOLOGIC SURVEYS; HIGH-LEVEL RADIOACTIVE WASTES; UNDERGROUND DISPOSAL; CLINOPTILOLITE; ISOTOPE DATING; GEOLOGY; RADIOACTIVE WASTE DISPOSAL; ZEOLITES; Yucca Mountain Project |
| Country of Publication: | United States |
| Language: | English |
| Format: | Size: 44 p. |
| Availability: | INIS; OSTI as DE94005018 To purchase this media from NTIS, click here |
| Update Date: | 2008 Feb 04 |
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